Can you Flex Acrylic?

I am trying to find out if you can use the flex cuts on acrylic and have it able to roll up without breaking, basically turning it into a mat. I am also curious if this is possible with wood. This would be something that would be rolled up and unrolled a lot. If anyone knows how Flex works exactly would greatly appreciate an explanation so I know what I need to make the cuts.

Thanks in advance!

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Are you referring to what is sometimes called a ‘living hinge’? I know that it can be done with wood, but I’ve not personally ever seen anyone do it with acrylic. Somehow, I don’t think acrylic could withstand repeated rolling and unrolling.
Try a search for living hinge first…


Then try the same for acrylic…

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Like wood products, regular acrylic won’t take many bending cycles with a “living hinge”, so I suggest finding a more suitable material.

Romark makes a modified acrylic that is quite flexible and will probably work for you. It’s flexible enough that it would not even need the cutaways.

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As stated here and elsewhere, regular acrylic will not withstand this. Even plywood won’t tolerate repeated flexing. The “living hinge” permits a rounded shape to be made, but it won’t work as an actual hinge.

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Acrylic is notoriously brittle - so no, even with living hinge cuts it won’t roll like a mat repeatedly without breaking. Polypropylene will, but it doesn’t even need living hinge cuts to do so.

As for wood - it depends on the wood, the living hinge pattern and how tightly you roll it. I’ve had a book shaped lamp for years that still looks new but I’ve also made things that cracked on first assembly.

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Short answer… No. Especially if you intend on rolling it up often. A silicone mat would be a better solution.

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As noted even wood will not take that much bending before breaking, however., as it is frequently seen a line of sticks bonded to a flexible material might be a different matter. In addition at 300 degrees F (or thereabouts), acrylic will flex like rubber but get hard again as it cools.

A stack of sticks with a line of extra strong clear tape, or a similar flexible material held with a solvent glue at each end might do the trick for you, even if the tape needs to be replaced occasionally.

Acrylic can definitely be curved, but I would also be dubious about “rolled up and unrolled a lot”
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