Cast acrylic tube for exhibition work is chosen for roundness and wall thickness, not for clarity alone. A stand builder planning a fragrance launch wanted eight clear columns, 300 mm outside diameter, 1.8 m tall, backlit from the base. The first quote came back with extruded tube at 3 mm wall. The columns would have wobbled at hand height and shown a bright ring at the light source.
Cast acrylic tube would have solved both. It is the difference between a structural element and a decorative sleeve, and it starts with the wall thickness.
Sizing acrylic tube for exhibition work
Extruded tube is made by pushing polymer through a die. It is inexpensive, available in long lengths, and has a visible extrusion line and higher internal stress. Cast tube is made in moulds, has no line, machines and bonds predictably, and holds its roundness over a two metre length.
For a temporary stand that lives for four days, extruded may be fine. For a column that carries a lit product, a hanging sign or a bonded base, cast is the safer purchase.
Sizing an acrylic tube for exhibition display work
Start with the outer diameter that suits the visual, then choose the wall. A 200 mm tube with a 3 mm wall is a sleeve. The same diameter at 8 mm is a column that can take a base plate and a top cap without deforming.
- 100 to 150 mm OD: 3 to 5 mm wall for sleeve wraps and small product cylinders.
- 200 to 300 mm OD: 5 to 10 mm wall for columns up to 2 m with a bonded base.
- 400 to 600 mm OD: 10 to 20 mm wall for structural columns carrying signage or lighting.
- Length: 2 m standard, up to 3 m on request; beyond that, plan a joint with a machined collar rather than a butt bond.
The base joint is where display columns fail
A tube bonded square onto a flat plate carries load through a thin ring of contact. Under a top load or a knock, that ring is where a crack starts. Two details prevent it: a machined collar that fits inside the tube and spreads the load, and a bonding sequence that wets the full joint face rather than a bead around the edge.
For columns over 1.5 m, add a steel or acrylic disc inside the base with a clearance hole, then bond the tube to the plate through the disc. The disc takes the point load; the bond only has to seal.
Bending, curving and the radius limit
Acrylic tube can be curved, but only within limits. As a rule, the centreline bend radius should be at least six times the outside diameter when the tube is heated evenly; tighter radii ovalise the section and thin the outer wall.
For a curved column, specify the radius, the wall and whether the section may ovalise. A supplier who quotes a tight radius without asking about ovality is quoting a decorative curve, not a structural one.
Surface, light and the stand lighting plan
Clear cast tube transmits light along the wall, which is why a base-lit column glows at the bottom and fades at the top. If even illumination is the design intent, use a satin or frosted finish on the inside face, or a diffuser sleeve inside the tube.
Where the tube sits close to a lamp, keep at least 30 mm of air gap. Acrylic softened by a hot lamp deforms under its own weight over a four-day show, and the deformation is permanent.
Stand builders who also work with flat sheet often pair tube with acrylic sheet cut to size for the base and plinth; the two need to be ordered together so the joint faces match in grade and finish.
What to write on the tube purchase order
Outside diameter, wall thickness with tolerance, length, end squareness, finish on the inside face and whether the tube will be bonded or mechanically fixed. Add the maximum top load if the column carries signage.
River People casts and machines acrylic tube from 20 to 600 mm outside diameter, cuts to length with square ends and can supply matching collars and base plates for exhibition builds.
Send the column drawing, top load and delivery date to oversales@rpplexiglass.com and we will confirm which acrylic tube for exhibition display sizes can be cast and shipped inside your build programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wall thickness do I need for a 2 m acrylic display column?
At 200 to 300 mm outside diameter, use 8 to 10 mm wall for a 2 m column that is bonded to a base plate. Below 5 mm the column behaves as a sleeve and will ovalise under load.
Can acrylic tube be bent for a curved stand element?
Yes, with a centreline radius of at least six times the outside diameter. Tighter bends ovalise the section and thin the outer wall, so the radius should be agreed before casting.
How do you bond acrylic tube to a base plate?
Machine a collar that fits inside the tube to spread the load, then solvent-bond the full joint face with a compatible cement and cure it undistorted for 24 to 48 hours. A bead around the edge alone will crack under load.