Acrylic Fabrication Q & A

[Turbo's Aquatics]

about a year ago this is the information i got from my dealer.

unigel bought out arkema.

what was once arkema plex g is now unigel plastiglas.

what was once arkema pmacs is now unigel chemcast.

Whoa where did you get this? Last I knew, Trineo bought Arkema and they're the ones that shut down Mexico. Then Plaskolite bought the 2 plants in MX and fired them back up again toward the end of last year and that's when they started making cast (they previously did not have a line of cast products)

Who is unigel?

So now PMACS is made somewhere else other than the former MX plants that are now Plaskolite?

I can't keep up....

 

[cromag27]

plastiglas was a subsidiary of unigel.

also, verzatec purchased plastiglas.

i’m now sure how this will effect the branding of specific products or the way they’re manufactured (quality).

Monterrey, N.L., Mexico – June 5th, 2024.

Verzatec Group, with over five decades of expertise, is pleased to announce the formalization of its acquisition of Plastiglas de Mexico S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Unigel Group.

This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in Verzatec’s trajectory, enhancing its position as a producer and distribution of fiberglass-reinforced plastic laminates, polycarbonate sheets, and interior and exterior panels.Plastiglas de Mexico’s market presence in cell casting acrylic sheets across Mexico, USA, and Canada complements Verzatec’s existing portfolio and strengthens its foothold in key regions.

“We are delighted to finalize the acquisition of Plastiglas de Mexico, a move that aligns seamlessly with our commitment to innovation, quality, and customer- centricity.
Together, we look forward to drive sustained growth as we continue to meet the evolving needs of our valued customers.” – said Alfredo Ibarra, CEO of Verzatec Group.

“Joining forces with Verzatec Group marks an exciting new chapter for Plastiglas de Mexico. Our shared dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction positions us for even greater success in the dynamic markets we serve. We are confident that together, we will unlock new opportunities and deliver value to our customers and stakeholders.” – said Baltazar Manfro, CEO of Plastiglas de Mexico.

As Verzatec embarks on this new chapter, it remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of excellence while delivering value to its stakeholders.



About Plastiglas de Mexico S.A. de C.V.



A company subsidiary of the Unigel Group, is a market leader in cell casting acrylic sheets with significant operations in Mexico, USA, and Canada.

Renowned for its innovative solutions and commitment to quality, Plastiglas de Mexico has established itself as a trusted name in the industry, serving a diverse range of clients across various sectors.

 

[Troylee]

Okay I finally read through this entire beast of a thread! Thank you so much to all of the contributors to this; I'm still waffling over whether building an acrylic display tank is financially feasible for me (physically? Heck yes!) I have been taking extensive notes with direct links to specific posts in any case so that I don't need to wander this thread looking for answers again.

But I have some questions that I'm hoping to clarify:

First question: are the joint cuts supposed to look like this:

Or like this?:

Somehow your great photos haven't worked for convincing my silly brain how the joints are cut.

Second question!

What the heck does 'CNC' stand for in regards to routers?

Third question!

Is this a good source of acrylic in Canada?: https://plasticworld.ca/product/0000-clear-acrylic-cast/

I cannot for the life of me figure out what brand this acrylic is, mind.

Fourth question!

Since it's been some time do any of you have opinions on the brand Optix? I only ask because this brand is pretty common in stores here. Mind you, not in specialty plastic stores but in Home Depot and Rona (which I understand probably means that it is trash to be avoided.)

Fifth question!

Before I found this thread, I, like many other DIY hobbyists went searching for answers on the mystical and degenerate platform known as Youtube, infamous for its poor advice. There I found the channel LushAqua, where the channel owner used, instead of solvent... cyanoacrylite aka super glue to glue his acrylic aquarium together.

While I fully intend to use Weldon 3 or 4 instead (especially because my 1.5 years of reefing has rather definitively taught me to never trust cyanoacrylite,) I can't help being morbidly fascinated by this dude's use of it. Does cyanoacrylite actually weld acrylic? Does it bind acrylic better than it does other substances?! (Because as we have established I have developed a very poor opinion of cyanoacrylite's binding capabilities.)

In any case, thank you again so much for this literal treasure trove of knowledge, it's been really fun researching this topic!

B! It’s too hard to glue a clean joint if it’s beveled.

 

[cromag27]

B! It’s too hard to glue a clean joint if it’s beveled.

i’ve done it cleanly with wo40, but it’s pretty tricky.

 

[Troylee]

i’ve done it cleanly with wo40, but it’s pretty tricky.

Well yeah, someone with experience and know how can pull it off like myself but I would never tell a diy person to do that. I do those joints almost daily but they’re not pressure vessels either.

 

[Barncat]

B! It’s too hard to glue a clean joint if it’s beveled.

I'm so glad that this is the consensus because every time I thought of option A my brain gave me the Blue Screen of Death haha. I'm not that handy of a person so the whole notion was giving me a headache and I don't even know where I got the silly notion from!

 

[Barncat]

i have also used optix, marga cipta and some others for water containers up to 20 gallons with no issues. some of them have been in constant operation for 15 years.

at this point i’d say there has been no conclusive data to show which is best and by what degree. we only have our own experiences to bounce off of.

I'm hoping to build a 90 gallon in 1/5" thickness/24" tall, is that too big for that brand of acrylic?

(2' wide, 3' long.)

 

[Lowell Lemon]

.0220 is too thin.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Triple post hahaha.

I would use 1/2"

 

[Troylee]

I'm hoping to build a 90 gallon in 1/5" thickness/24" tall, is that too big for that brand of acrylic?

(2' wide, 3' long.)

You mean 1/2”? And what brand of acrylic?