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.
Are you referring to what is sometimes called a âliving hingeâ? I know that it can be done with wood, but Iâve not personally ever seen anyone do it with acrylic. Somehow, I donât think acrylic could withstand repeated rolling and unrolling.
Try a search for living hinge firstâŚ
Like wood products, regular acrylic wonât take many bending cycles with a âliving hingeâ, so I suggest finding a more suitable material.
Romark makes a modified acrylic that is quite flexible and will probably work for you. Itâs flexible enough that it would not even need the cutaways.
As stated here and elsewhere, regular acrylic will not withstand this. Even plywood wonât tolerate repeated flexing. The âliving hingeâ permits a rounded shape to be made, but it wonât work as an actual hinge.
Acrylic is notoriously brittle - so no, even with living hinge cuts it wonât roll like a mat repeatedly without breaking. Polypropylene will, but it doesnât 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. Iâve had a book shaped lamp for years that still looks new but Iâve also made things that cracked on first assembly.
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.