jerrman:
I have had a complete wood shop long before I started building stuff for model railroad layouts. I find I go to my table saw a lot more often than any other tool to cut plastic. In using all the machines I found the chop saw not really good for cutting thin plastic despite getting the best blade I could. I think it has to do with lowering the blade onto the plastic rather than slicing through it as on a table saw. You can get a sliding compound miter saw that acts like a table saw but I doubt it is the version Micromark sells. WRT a bandsaw I use it only to cut curves and circles. It is probably my set up technique or my fence system but I never get a straight cut on a long piece of plastic with it. The blade likes to wander around a lot.
I made a cross cut sled for my table saw that acts as a zero tolerance throat plate so the plastic won't crack or chip on the bottom. I use only an carbide tip 80 tooth blade (minimum number of teeth - 90 , 95 tooth would be better). For long pieces I use my fence. When cutting really thin plastic 30 mils or less I try to stay on the sled as much as possible. The thin stuff like to creep underneath the saw fence. If I have to I will attach an aux fence that sits on the table better.
Bottom line my vote is for the table saw. If you plan on cutting a lot of circles or curvy stuff then think about the band saw.
Joe
