Question on plastics and their workability
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Question on plastics and their workability
How well do you know your composites?
I need a plastic that is;
Stable within temperature range of -20 F to + 90 F
Can be worked easily with a drill bit, sander and a bandsaw
Isn’t “ greasy” – i.e. I need to affix something to it using two part epoxy and it won’t let go ( there will be no stress on the joint)
I don’t know my plastics at all except;
Phenolic is too hard.
Delrin has self-lubricating proprerties ( I think) so it would be too greasy.
What about ABS or Nylon or Polyethylene or polycarbonate ?
I like the price and availability of 1 inch thick ABS....
I need a plastic that is;
Stable within temperature range of -20 F to + 90 F
Can be worked easily with a drill bit, sander and a bandsaw
Isn’t “ greasy” – i.e. I need to affix something to it using two part epoxy and it won’t let go ( there will be no stress on the joint)
I don’t know my plastics at all except;
Phenolic is too hard.
Delrin has self-lubricating proprerties ( I think) so it would be too greasy.
What about ABS or Nylon or Polyethylene or polycarbonate ?
I like the price and availability of 1 inch thick ABS....
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 494
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From: Guelph
I have a mobile sign company and the sign face is plexi glass.It a full sheet 4'x8' 3mm thick. I use methylene chloride to clue the letter track onto it.These signs are towed on alittle dolley to the rental location thought pot holes and rough roads all year long and have never broken one yet.I use a fine tooth blade on my table saw to cut it. I live just a little south of you so the temp. are about the same. There is also a cover that goes over the front of the sign face to prevent vandilism that is clear 3mm polycarbonate it is cut with same blade.Both plastic stand up very well until some drunk Universiaty students think there king kong at 3 am and roll one over and but there boots to it.Weld -On makes a product to glue the poly...Hope this helps
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Drunk university students in Guelph? Who would have thought it! Only been there a few times but a beautiful wee city.
I should mention that I need something about 3/4 to one inch thick. Small Parts Inc sells pieces of ABS that thick and in small enough dimensions that it would serve my purpose without costing a fortune...
Anybody know ABS very well?
My understanding of polycarbonate is that's quite brittle...Yes? No? But can it be gotten as thick as I need?
I should mention that I need something about 3/4 to one inch thick. Small Parts Inc sells pieces of ABS that thick and in small enough dimensions that it would serve my purpose without costing a fortune...
Anybody know ABS very well?
My understanding of polycarbonate is that's quite brittle...Yes? No? But can it be gotten as thick as I need?
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,984
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Fergie,
I stopped by one of the local plastics places here and bought some drops of clear and black when I was fabricating my gauges. It was easy enough to cut with a jigsaw and a holesaw. I think it was some kind of polycarbonate.
I don't know about solid chunks of ABS but its been my experience that the ABS tubing is not brittle like PVC is. Thats why its ok to use ABS for compressed air lines and not PVC. PVC will shatter and trun into schrapnel when it breaks, ABS will split and rupture but will not come apart.
Here is a link to McMaster-Carr, there are some decent descriptions of a variety of plastics;
McMaster-Carr
Bobby
I stopped by one of the local plastics places here and bought some drops of clear and black when I was fabricating my gauges. It was easy enough to cut with a jigsaw and a holesaw. I think it was some kind of polycarbonate.
I don't know about solid chunks of ABS but its been my experience that the ABS tubing is not brittle like PVC is. Thats why its ok to use ABS for compressed air lines and not PVC. PVC will shatter and trun into schrapnel when it breaks, ABS will split and rupture but will not come apart.
Here is a link to McMaster-Carr, there are some decent descriptions of a variety of plastics;
McMaster-Carr
Bobby
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 765
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From: Fairmount, Georgia
I used to machine alot of ABS. If you are looking for a good finish, it will be lacking. And I am not sure if you can stick things to it but it is a pretty cheap plastic and definitely wouldn't hurt to try it. It's also pretty tough.
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Quized an Engineer here at work and he says I'm good with ABS for my application as long as I work it at low speed to avoid melting it. Parts won't be visible so actual finish isn't important.
As I said - Small Parts Inc has it in 6 x 12 x 1 inch pieces so I'm good now.
Bobby - McMaster-Carr wont ship to private individuals in Canada....
but Small Parts will.
Thanks all,
As I said - Small Parts Inc has it in 6 x 12 x 1 inch pieces so I'm good now.
Bobby - McMaster-Carr wont ship to private individuals in Canada....
but Small Parts will.Thanks all,
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
ABS is very workable and durable. As said keep it cool as you machine it. cut off the burred edges with a sharp knife. It glues (actually welds) very solidly, glue for it is as close as the plumbing department at your local hardware store. Black plastic drain pipe is ABS. Be sure the glue can states it's specifically for ABS not PVC. ABS also heat forms readily with very little memory. The plastic door panels and headliners from Rod Doors are vaccuum formed ABS. You can hammer on it and bend the thinner panels and they will pop back into shape, but if you just lightly scribe it with a sharp knife and bend it back it will readily snap off clean along the scribe. A lot of the interior and even some exterior plastic panels on new cars are made from ABS.
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