gregf27
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:28 PM |
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cutting Lexan polycarbonate
Finally getting round to sorting out a slightly taller aeroscreen on my F27,
got some 4mm lexan,in bronze tint, whats the best way to cut it? bandsaw??
or whats the best blade to use in a jigsaw and speed? dont want to fook it up
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RichardK
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:30 PM |
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I used a fine metal blade and took it slow, so not to melt it as it cut, took a while but got there in the end.
Cheers
Rich
Gallery updated 11/01/2011
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austin man
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:33 PM |
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I cut mine with a jigsaw I would advise that you use an airline to blow the swarf away and also keep the blade cool. If you have no airline you will
have to take your time as the lexan / polycarb wil start to weld together. I then used a sharp plane to true the edge and then smoothed off with wet
and dry. If you need to bend it in any way use a hot air gun, dont get too close or have it on for too long as it will blister
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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thunderace
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:00 PM |
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the hoter the better like a hot knife through butter,,,,use a plastic cutting blade as thats what you need lol.
like this(there ultra fine tooth)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jigsaw-Blades-ELU-35308_W0QQitemZ130372882711QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item1e5ad45117
[Edited on 10/3/10 by thunderace]
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hicost blade
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:08 PM |
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Tap Tap plastics, the fantastic...........................plastic place
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/920876/how_to_cut_plastic_sheet/
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norfolkluego
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:30 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by austin man
If you need to bend it in any way use a hot air gun, dont get too close or have it on for too long as it will blister
Can you bend that stuff, I've used it to glaze a greenhouse in the past and cut it like glass, score it and snap it over a straight edge.
I'd love an aero screen, trouble is I'm not very tall so with a traditional (opaque) one I wouldn't be able to see where I was
going, could I make one out of that.
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iank
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| posted on 11/3/10 at 07:44 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by norfolkluego
quote:
Originally posted by austin man
If you need to bend it in any way use a hot air gun, dont get too close or have it on for too long as it will blister
Can you bend that stuff, I've used it to glaze a greenhouse in the past and cut it like glass, score it and snap it over a straight edge.
I'd love an aero screen, trouble is I'm not very tall so with a traditional (opaque) one I wouldn't be able to see where I was
going, could I make one out of that.
Depends if it's coated, regular lexan/polycarbonate is softer than perspex (but a lot tougher) and can scratch so there are coated versions
(Lexan Magard for example) that are tough and scratch resistant, but don't bend well.
Lots more information here
http://www.edplastics.co.uk/Products.htm
[Edited on 11/3/10 by iank]
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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procomp
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| posted on 11/3/10 at 09:50 AM |
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Hi
Sounds like the same stuff we use. For doing the job DIY a jigsaw would be best option. As mentioned dont get the blade too hot as it then becomes a
right pain to get a nice clean finish on the screen afterwards. Speed not sure what speed i would use but not too fast Just enough so that you are
making reasonable pace along the cutting line.
Wear glasses or eye protection the swarf is usually hot and sharp. Trust me it is very painful if it dose get in your eyes.
Cheers Matt
Ps oh yea you'll know if it's genuine lexan. Take an off cut and place it on a hard surface. Then hit it as hard as you can with a 4Lb
ball ended hammer if you just about dent it. It's def Lexan.
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boggle
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| posted on 11/3/10 at 11:30 AM |
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or get a template made and get it waterjet cut....
just because you are a character, doesnt mean you have character....
for all your bespoke parts, ali welding, waterjet, laser, folding, turning, milling, composite work, spraying, anodising and cad drawing....
u2u me for details
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BenB
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| posted on 11/3/10 at 04:05 PM |
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I used a metal (fine tooth) jigsaw blade. As said just run the jigsaw for short periods. I also went at it like a man possessed and soon had liquid
polycarbonate gluing my briefly seperated bits of sheet back together again. Which is annoying.
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