The best way to cut such materials without chips, especially with a manual circular saw/yep, its possible/ is to stick a normal transparent tape both sides of the cut and cut through it. It lubricates the blade, dont ask me why. Even best is a sacrificial cheap high density foam sheet below the methacrylate , especially if cutting over edge of table using hand saw.


Saw blade must be meant for plastic / more teeth/, from the web manufacturer recommendations:

"For best results with Plexiglas® MC acrylic sheet, circular saw blades should be the largest diameter possible and contain 60 carbide-tipped teeth with a triple-chip-tooth design. Teeth should be shaped with a 5° to 10° positive rake angle and have sharp cutting edges with adequate clearance."


As far as structural strength when gluing aquariums.

i would do my self an DIy acrylic sheet bender. Which simply said is a heated wire that heats a line of material when place near it on top of material, and then bend material over some edge. This is the simplest contraption and it works. Now that you have the facing toward the viewer edges without glue and beautifully executed/ no glue and slightly curved for strength/ you could procede and glue the rest properly with additional reinforcing strip.

I am never ashamed to do it beautiful where must be and strong, where must be. Speaking in general. the above i know from a friend making transparent covers for his beautiful yacht models.

Hope that helps