Sticker & acrylic goods guides
Acrylic Stand Cut Files: Slots, Clearance and Laser Kerf
Understand loose or tight slots, laser kerf compensation and stability warnings before making an acrylic stand.
An acrylic stand has a separate artwork piece and base, joined by a tab and slot. The acrylic stand tool creates a flat bottom, a tab and a slotted base together.
Set thickness and check the actual tab width
Use the thickness of the material your maker will supply. The default is 3mm acrylic with a requested 15mm tab, but a narrow bottom may limit the width that can connect to the artwork.
Check the actual tab width shown in the editor. The requested width alone does not describe the final connection or its strength.
Clearance and kerf are different settings
| Setting | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic thickness | Material thickness entering the slot | Your maker’s material specification |
| Slot clearance | Intended difference between mating dimensions | Whether a test assembly is loose or tight |
| Laser kerf | Full width of material removed by cutting | The value and whether your maker already compensates |
With kerf set to zero, slot dimensions use the actual tab width and material thickness plus clearance. Entering kerf adjusts the slot cut line for the fit after cutting. Leave kerf at zero if your maker already compensates, so the compensation is not applied twice.
The default 0.2mm clearance is a starting setting. Actual thickness and cutting conditions vary. Use a test assembly and your maker’s advice before reducing clearance for a loose fit or increasing it for a tight one.
Respond to stability warnings
A small base or artwork extending far to one side can put the center of mass near a base edge. Increase the base size and review the warning.
The warning is a simplified sideways calculation assuming uniform acrylic thickness and density. It does not check front-to-back tipping, impacts, bending or joint strength. A missing warning is not proof of stability; check a physical assembly.
Check the production file
Set artwork size and border first, followed by thickness, tab width, clearance and kerf. Review the actual tab, base shape and stability warning. Lay out the piece and base together and export the Acrylic goods PDF, then confirm the accepted layers and file format with your maker.
For hanging artwork, see keychain hole and white ink settings.