Ordering PETG sheet cut to size goes wrong when the cut list leaves out tolerance, edge finish and grain direction. A packaging machinery builder ordered 400 PETG panels cut to 480 by 320 mm with a 2 mm tolerance. What arrived measured 477 to 483 mm, which was inside tolerance per panel and outside tolerance as a set, and the assembly line rejected half of them.
PETG sheet cut to size is not a commodity cut. It is a specification with four variables, and a cut list that leaves any of them out produces exactly that outcome.
The four variables in PETG sheet cut to size
A per-panel tolerance of plus or minus 1 mm means every panel can be 1 mm small and still pass, which fails a stack that has to align. Specifying a range across the whole delivery, or a plus-zero minus-one band, is what assembly actually needs.
For PETG, saw cutting holds about plus or minus 1 mm on panels up to 2 m; CNC routing holds plus or minus 0.3 mm; die cutting holds tighter but needs a tool. Choose the process against the assembly, not against the budget alone.
Variable two: edge finish
- Saw cut: matte edge with fine saw marks, acceptable for concealed panels.
- CNC routed: clean edge with a slight matte finish, suitable for visible panels.
- Polished or flame treated: glossy edge for display and retail parts.
- Die cut: shear edge with a slight burr, normal for high-volume thin parts.
Variable three: grain and draw direction
Extruded PETG has a machine direction. A part that will be thermoformed must be cut with the draw direction known, because forming across the grain behaves differently from forming along it. Mark the direction on the cut list, or ask the supplier to mark it on the sheet.
For flat parts, direction matters less, but it still affects how a panel bends under load and how a scored line runs when the part is folded.
Variable four: masking and protection
PETG scratches more easily than acrylic, so a PE film on both faces is standard for visible parts. Ask whether the film is suitable for the next process: a printing line needs a film that releases cleanly, and a thermoforming line needs one that survives the heat.
Remove the film within a reasonable period after delivery. Film left on a sheet through a hot workshop for months can bond to the surface and take a haze with it when peeled.
The cut list format that avoids disputes
Send a table with part number, width, height, quantity, tolerance per part, edge finish, film requirement and the assembly it belongs to. Add a drawing for any part with an aperture or a radiused corner. Number the parts so a delivery can be checked against the list in ten minutes.
Ask for the packing to follow the same numbering. A crate of 400 loose panels costs more in sorting time than the cutting saved.
Checking a delivery
Measure ten panels at random across the delivery, not the first ten in the crate. Check the diagonal on any panel with an aperture, and look at the edges under a raking light for a consistent finish.
Where the parts will be printed or formed, run one trial piece before releasing the batch to production. It is the cheapest quality gate in the process.
The price side of small-thickness sheet is covered in PETG sheet 3 mm price, and food-contact grades in PETG sheet and FDA compliance.
River People cuts PETG to size by saw, router or die, with film, numbering and packing matched to a production line rather than a warehouse shelf.
Send the cut list table with tolerances, edge finish and annual quantity to oversales@rpplexiglass.com and we will quote petg sheet cut to size per part, with the cutting process and film stated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tolerance can you hold on PETG cut to size?
Saw cutting holds about plus or minus 1 mm on panels up to 2 m, CNC routing about plus or minus 0.3 mm, and die cutting tighter for high volumes. Specify whether the tolerance applies per panel or across the whole delivery.
Can PETG be cut to size and then thermoformed?
Yes, but the cut must follow the grain direction and the film must be suitable for the forming heat. Mark the draw direction on the cut list so the parts are not cut across the grain.
What is the minimum order for cut PETG panels?
Small trial quantities are possible from stock sheet, while custom thicknesses and colours usually start at one pallet. Ask for the cut list to be priced per part so the minimum is visible.