Plastic enclosures are used for a variety of projects, including terrariums and display cases. Plastic is stronger, weighs less and has better optical clarity than glass. Acrylic enclosures made by professionals are expensive. Use a few basic fabrication techniques to build an inexpensive five-sided acrylic enclosure

Measure the object to be contained within the enclosure, including its length, width and height. Add 3 inches to each measurement to ensure the object fits within the enclosure. Write the measurements down. The enclosure will consist of five panels; a front, back, bottom and two sides. The enclosure will be constructed of 3/16 inch-thick clear acrylic. Have a plastics retailer cut the panels. Take the 3/16 inch material thickness into consideration when calculating the size each panel.

Sand the saw cut edges by hand, using 220-grit sandpaper. Use a piece of scrap lumber as a sanding block to sand the edges smooth. Keep the surface of the sandpaper and sanding block parallel with the surface being sanded to maintain a flat edge. Wipe the edge down with a 100 percent cotton rag. Remove the protective backing from both sides of the acrylic sheet.

Place one side panel at a 90-degree angle to the front panel of the enclosure. The side panel should butt against the inside face of the front panel. Using a spring clamp, clamp the gluing jig to the outside of the side panel to hold the panel perpendicular to panel it's being cemented to. A gluing jig is a piece of scrap lumber that holds the piece being cemented in place.

Fill the squeeze bottle applicator with acrylic solvent cement to the bottle's halfway point. Using the thumb and index finger, squeeze the container until the cement is near the bottle's top. Slightly release the pressure and a vacuum will be formed that will keep the glue from spilling.

Apply a thin line of glue along the inside seam of the joint formed by the two acrylic panels. Allow one hour drying time. Remove the gluing jig and repeat the cementing process for the other side panel, starting with the placement of the jig. After the second side has been glued in place, flip the glued front and two sides over, line up the back panel's edges and glue the back panel to the sides.

Position the bottom piece so the walls of the enclosure line up with edges of the bottom panel. Apply a thin bead of cement to the inside seam and allow 24 hours drying time. Add a top or bottom, made from scrap lumber, and the project is complete.