How line bending works

Line bending, also called strip heating, heats a narrow band of acrylic until it softens, at around 300 to 340 °F (150 to 170 °C). We fold the part to the angle you asked for and hold it in a jig while it cools. Only the bend line is heated, so the rest of the part stays flat, clear, and true, and the bend itself stays clear too.

Because the whole part is cut flat first, bent parts can have engraving, holes, slots, and shaped outlines just like any laser-cut part. Bending is the cheapest way to turn one flat piece into a stand, a holder, or a guard with no glue joints.

What we can bend

  • Thickness: 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 in. Thicker sheet doesn't line-bend cleanly; for thick parts, we bond pieces at the corners instead (see acrylic fabrication).
  • Angles: any angle you specify, from a slight tilt to a full 180° fold. 90° is the most common. Bent parts typically land within about ±2° of the angle you ask for.
  • Bend length: straight bends running all the way across the part. Very long bends on large panels we confirm by hand.
  • Number of bends: one or several on the same part. An L-shaped stand has one; a U-shaped riser or a Z-shaped shelf bracket has two.
  • Colors: clear, colors, tints, and fluorescent bend well. Mirror acrylic can be bent, but the mirror layer can craze or dull at the bend, so ask us before ordering mirror bends.

Bends are straight lines only. Curved and domed shapes are made by thermoforming over a mold, which is a different process: read can you thermoform acrylic?

Bend radius

A line bend isn't a sharp crease. The inside of the bend has a small radius, roughly equal to the sheet thickness: about 1/8 in. inside radius on 1/8 in. sheet, about 1/4 in. on 1/4 in. sheet. That rounded corner is what keeps the bend strong and clear; forcing a tighter bend stretches the outside and can leave it hazy or weak. Minimum bend radius for acrylic has the details.

If you need a larger, smooth curve, such as a 2 in. radius around the front of a cover, tell us in your order notes and we'll confirm whether it can be done.

What people use bent acrylic for

Designing a part to be bent

Send the flat pattern

Draw the part flat, as it's cut before bending, with each bend line marked on a separate layer or in a different color. The calculator and our checks need the flat size. If you only know the finished size, describe it (for example, “a 4 × 6 in. sign holder with a 2 in. foot at 70°”) and we'll work out the flat pattern for you.

Working out flat-pattern sizes

For 1/8 in. acrylic or thinner, adding the outside lengths of each leg is close enough for most parts. For 3/16 and 1/4 in., subtract about one sheet thickness per 90° bend to allow for the radius. For example, an L-bracket of 1/4 in. acrylic with legs of 4 in. and 3 in. (outside) has a flat length of about 4 + 3 − 0.25 = 6.75 in. If the finished size matters to a hair, say which dimensions are critical and we'll adjust.

Keep features away from the bend

  • Holes and slots: keep them at least three times the sheet thickness from a bend line, or the heat can distort them into ovals.
  • Engraving: keep it at least 1/2 in. from a bend line; heat near the line can soften its edges.
  • Narrow legs: a leg shorter than about 3/4 in. is hard to hold for an accurate bend. If you need a very short lip, ask.
  • Cutouts across the bend: a notch or slot that crosses the bend line weakens it and may kink. Put it on one leg or the other.

Tell us the direction

For engraved or asymmetrical parts, say which way each bend goes relative to the engraved face (toward you or away from you). A quick sketch in the order notes avoids surprises.

Tip: Bending at home with a heat gun? It works for small, thin parts with practice, but it's easy to bubble or scorch the sheet. How to bend acrylic and can you heat gun acrylic? show how to do it safely.

Pricing and lead time

In the calculator, add the number of bends to any part 1/4 in. or thinner. Bending is priced per bend and by bend length, with a small setup for the job, so larger quantities of the same bent part come down in price. Most bent parts ship in 3 to 5 business days after we confirm the order, and rush orders in 1 to 3 business days.

Want to see what a bent part will weigh, or whether a bent shelf will sag? Try the weight calculator and the shelf sag calculator.