Free Acrylic Gear Generator | Laser Cut PMMA & Plexiglass Gear Profiles

Acrylic (PMMA / Plexiglass) is one of the most popular materials for laser-cut clocks, kinetic art, and visual demonstrators. However, acrylic has high sliding friction and brittle tooth tips. GearDXF creates optimized tooth profiles with kerf compensation to ensure smooth, quiet acrylic gear rotation.

Key Features

• Optimized involute curvature to minimize sliding friction on acrylic teeth
• Adjustable backlash compensation to offset laser kerf (0.15mm - 0.25mm)
• Decorative spoke patterns that accentuate clear and colored acrylic aesthetics
• Clean closed-polyline DXF and SVG files ready for laser cutter CAM software
• Simulate meshing and clearance before cutting costly cast acrylic sheets
• 100% free with unlimited downloads

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best type of acrylic for cutting gears?

Cast acrylic is strongly recommended over extruded acrylic. Cast acrylic machines and laser-cuts with cleaner, flame-polished edges and has superior dimensional stability under mechanical load.

How do I lubricate laser cut acrylic gears?

Never use petroleum-based lubricants or WD-40 on acrylic, as they cause stress crazing and cracking. Use dry PTFE spray, silicone lubricant, or white lithium grease.

What thickness of acrylic should I use for gears?

For decorative clocks or low-torque demonstrators, 3mm (1/8") or 5mm (3/16") acrylic is standard. For heavier mechanical loads, 6mm (1/4") provides excellent tooth bending strength.