Since Xist brought the subject up (thnx) here's someone with a big CNC investment that knows what their doing. Instead of screws in the middle of sheets and acrylic that slides around, a vacuum bed:
This is from PDX CNC. Interesting.
Notice the how the geodesic panels are finished and assembled. One could flange clear acrylic sheets.
Stewart Hicks explains the downfall of panel construction:
How Caulk Replaced Craft in Architecture