O/T: What material; if any

[RStuart]

Looking for a material that can be turned and milled and still be translucent. Anything?

[Bullines]

Plexiglass (thinking of hockey arena glass)?

[RStuart]

looking for something that I could get in say a 9" DIA and about 4.5" thick.

[Rekd™]

CHIIING!

[RStuart]

Money isn't really on object here. Just need something that will stay clear. Its a part our sales department desperately wants.

[Wally]

Plexy will chip - I`d go with Lexan or maybe Aluminum.

[RStuart]

Aluminum Wally? Looking for something translucent or close to it.

[Wally]

Sorry about the Aluminum - forgit it was clear.

[mikevinw]

I have had good luck with acrylic, Milling and turning. If it hazes you can polish it out.

[RStuart]

What type of polishing materials do you use Mikevinw? We happen to have a polishing department.

[robk]

Polycarbonate/Lexan is what you want to use. We have a complete mold frame made out of that stuff. Looks awesome. Definitely will need some polishing afterwards. I wish I could post a picture, but the frame is @ the Cleveland mold show right now.

[RStuart]

Again, what type of polishing media.

[mikevinw]

Novus scratch remover with a cotton wheel. If it is a bad haze work it out stages. Don't get it hot while buffing and don't clean it with alcohol. Your best bet is to pull a clear finish of the machine. Radius the corners of your tools and run coolant and you have to get the chips away from the part. If a chip catches it will just haze over.

[robk]

quote:

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Again, what type of polishing media.

---

Sorry, no clue from me

[Philcott]

Wally,

 

Maybe you were thinking of the transparent aluminum Scotty had made (in Star trek 4) that he used to built Gracies storage tank on the Klingon vessel. If so there must be someone in the Sad Diego area that knows where to get it.

 

Phil

[Wally]

Novus - it`s a plastic polish. Comes in 3 differant grits. I drive a Jeep and use it on my plastic windows. It`s awsome. Like Mike said - don`t get it hot.

[RStuart]

Awesome guys! THANKS a million!!

[Rekd™]

Dammit, Phil! I was reading down, hoping no-one brought that up!

[Camdude®]

i just ain't fast enough, quick draw phil

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

If it does not get clear enough, you can Vapor polish it.

 

Mike

[crazy^millman]

Yeah just don't breate the fumes becuase they can cause cancer. I think it is better to do that on poloycarbonate but would have to ask Javier about that he is my expert on that kind of stuff. It blew my mind when he did this and really suprised how good it did. We have found that sanding to 1500 grit then polishing by hand does the trick to make it clear but would suck on a big part. My uncle told me that he use to take a buffer for a car and do the windsheilds for the SR-22 that way.

 

Great tips and adivce, great place and group of guys.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Ron,

 

You must be carefull and safe. It is pretty cool.

 

I like it.

 

Mike

[RStuart]

Okay, can someone give me some insight as to how to go about machining this lexan to get the best possible finish off the machine. Such as tooling and speeds and feeds.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Here is a few tips:

 

1). Don't get hot, especially when drilling. Use a low SFM and high IPT.

 

2). Use nice sharp new tools.

 

3). Use care to avoid chipping. You may have to machine for the outside in on edges sometimes.

 

4). As with all plastics, Use a large radius on the tool if roughing large amounts of material. I usually don't do this because it is not always convenient but it is the best way.

 

These are my opinions only.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[mold100]

Ice????????Got to get er done fast though and coolant is the key, got to keep it real cool.

 

I can be an as_ at times.