Acrylic Rod, Round, Cast

Cast clear acrylic rod delivers exceptional optical clarity and light transmission in a solid round profile, making it the preferred choice where appearance matters as much as strength. Cast acrylic offers higher molecular weight than extruded, which translates to better machining characteristics, superior chemical resistance, and cleaner polished edges. It transmits roughly 92% of visible light — more than glass — with excellent resistance to yellowing and UV degradation over years of exposure. Available in a wide range of diameters, cast acrylic rod turns, drills, and threads well on standard equipment and polishes to a water-clear finish.

The combination of clarity, weather resistance, and machinability makes cast acrylic rod a standard material for light pipes and edge-lit displays, retail fixtures and risers, sign standoffs, awards and trophies, spacers, shafts, knobs, and machined optical or decorative components. It bonds cleanly with acrylic solvent cement for nearly invisible joints and can be flame- or hand-polished to restore full transparency after cutting. Cast acrylic is roughly 10 times more impact resistant than glass at half the weight, though it is more brittle than ABS or polycarbonate and should be machined with sharp tooling and proper feed rates to avoid chipping. Suitable for continuous service to approximately 180°F.