Questions about lexan/polycarbonate/etc

[Wiseass]

I'm finally delving into my lexan/poly/plexi/whatever you want to call it build, but theres a few questions more that I've got:

1. What is a good source for colored/tinted pieces? I've checked McMaster and they only seem to have black opaque and for a 24 x 48 x 1/4 its almost $300!!!

2. First question brings me to thickness, what's a decent thickness? I want something relatively easy to cut, drill, etc, but don't want something that's going to weigh 400 pounds. I thought about 1/4" or even 1/8" (or is that too thin?)

3. Is there such a thing as lexan/polycarbonate screws? Although I rather like the industrial look of the plastic/metal screws, I'd like to sort of achieve a "hidden" look with plastic/lexan screws?

[Electron Chaser]

Colored Lexan is difficult to find and you will pay a premium for it.

1/4" is a good thickness to use. Rigid yet not too thick

I don't recommend using plastic screws. They have a nasty habit of the heads snapping off when you tighten them and they strip very easily.

[vonkaar]

Furthermore... you'd have a much stronger joint by using a cement. If you want to join 2 pieces of clear material and 'have' to have a hidden connection, use this (http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=131&).

[Wiseass]

Colored Lexan is difficult to find and you will pay a premium for it.


bah thats what i thought. Is mcmaster one of the better places to order plastics/lexan from then? I see alot of mention about their product, or would I be fine to just goto the local home store and purchase sheets?

[Herr Rogers]

If you're looking for a green tint or blue tint you can just leave the UV layer on that comes on lexan. I believe it matters where you get your lexan from, but I've seen blue tinted and green tinted. It's not supposed to be tinted. It's actually just a sheet that you pull off before you apply it that protects the lexan from UV Rays. Just go to the store and look at it.... I didn't even know it was supposed to come off until I asked on the forums; so it's on there pretty well...
Also, how did you get away with that nick on the forums? I've seen people get their's changed just because it was close to a curse word. But then again, the "a-word" isn't really a curse word. Pardon my rambling...go buy some lexan!

[Captain Slug]

Polycarbonate does not come in a wide variety of tints. The few tints that are available are UV or light reduction tints, like those needed for city bus and office windows. If you want anything other than a gray tint you'll have to add tinting film or look into tint curing processes (ask an optometrist).

McMaster has prices lower than what you will find at Home Depot because all Home Depot does is look for a local source and order sizes based on the contractor demands of that particular location. For cheaper prices still it's best to find a plastics shop near you that sells off cuts. You may even find hard-to-find pieces like I did. For example I bought a bunch of 80% black tint polycarbonate sheets which are absurdly expensive at retail.

Polycarbonate is not a "decorative" material like Acrylic, it's more of a utilitarian plastic. This is the primary reason you're not going to find it in more attractive colors. Clear polycarbonate, unlike acrylic, is not perfectly clear and actually filters out most of the ultraviolet spectrum.

If you want Opaque black use Delrin. It's a marvelous material to machine and while still expensive it's not as prohibitive as opaque polycarbonate. Delrin is a very dense plastic so 1/8" sheets will be plenty.

Clear screws can be found: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=21316&product%5Fid=21181
Don't use them for anything that's too load-bearing or has a thread deeper than half an inch.

I find that 3/16th-inch sheets are my favorite balance of rigidity and weight savings. It's easy to machine and I have access to oodles of scrap in that thickness so I use it alot.

[Susquehannock]

Check the sticky : * Acrylic Polycarbonate Plexiglas Lexan, what to use (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=297709)
:cool: