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-   -   Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153939)

Sperkowsky 20-01-2017 09:36

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankJ (Post 1633850)
It is nice for fish tanks if we ever have a water game.

Is this a good place for a debate on Glass Vs. Acrylic when building Aquariums?
#teamglass

FrankJ 20-01-2017 10:32

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky (Post 1633862)
Is this a good place for a debate on Glass Vs. Acrylic when building Aquariums?
#teamglass

Only in the context of a water game. :]

Bob Steele 20-01-2017 13:17

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Transparent Aluminum?
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2015/11/transparent-aluminum/

although this is really alumina based glass instead of silica based glass
Probably not the same stuff as on Star Trek lol

Oblarg 20-01-2017 13:20

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cadandcookies (Post 1633780)
This. So many people just call clear plastic "plexi" or "plexiglas"-- whether it's the right thing or not. For competitive robotics, it is just about always the wrong thing.

Also, since nobody explicitly stated what will go wrong:
Lexan basically doesn't shatter. They use specific compositions of it for bulletproof "glass" for this reason. You can even cold-bend the stuff (though I wouldn't generally recommend it) and depending on the use it can be fine. Acrylic on the other hand... well, drop it or hit it with something or try to bend it and see what happens. It shatters. Something into sharp shards. A quite undesirable characteristic for robots. So, polycarbonate, Lexan, or Makrolon are generally good for robot use. Acrylic, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite or Perspex = bad news.

To reiterate everyone else:

Make sure what you are using is polycarbonate and not acrylic or it may very well literally shatter your dreams.

Just about the only nice property of acrylic, in my opinion, is that it lasercuts very, very nicely.

RoboChair 20-01-2017 13:34

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Steele (Post 1633987)
Transparent Aluminum?
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2015/11/transparent-aluminum/

although this is really alumina based glass instead of silica based glass
Probably not the same stuff as on Star Trek lol

Ruby and Sapphire are both transparent aluminum(Al2O3). Sapphire is sometimes used as viewing windows in ultra high pressure and high temperature lab equipment. The color of ruby and sapphire is just based on the impurities in the crystal lattice, no impurities and it's clear like glass.

btw: this means all the aluminum you own is literally covered in sapphire.

Munchskull 20-01-2017 13:40

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Oblarg (Post 1633988)
Just about the only nice property of acrylic, in my opinion, is that it lasercuts very, very nicely.

You laser cut acrylic and you are a hero. You laser cut ABS and you poison the entire shop with cyanide gas. (For real though when lasercuting know the material safety properties.)

RoboChair 20-01-2017 13:49

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchskull (Post 1633998)
You laser cut acrylic and you are a hero. You laser cut ABS and you poison the entire shop with cyanide gas. (For real though when lasercuting know the material safety properties.)

And PVC makes chlorine gas

Andrew Schreiber 20-01-2017 13:54

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchskull (Post 1633998)
You laser cut acrylic and you are a hero. You laser cut ABS and you poison the entire shop with cyanide gas. (For real though when lasercuting know the material safety properties.)

This is why above our laser cutter we have a list of banned materials. And a fume hood that must be running or the laser won't turn on.

Oblarg 20-01-2017 13:56

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber (Post 1634007)
This is why above our laser cutter we have a list of banned materials. And a fume hood that must be running or the laser won't turn on.

Yep, this is the way to go. Back when I was in a lab which laser cut things regularly, we had a big materials chart with safety information and tips about how well the various stuff cut.

Several entries had no text other than "TOXIC FUMES, DO NOT CUT."

Munchskull 20-01-2017 14:00

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber (Post 1634007)
This is why above our laser cutter we have a list of banned materials. And a fume hood that must be running or the laser won't turn on.

Correct me if I am wrong but Polycarbonate has dangerous gases too.

RoboChair 20-01-2017 14:03

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchskull (Post 1634015)
Correct me if I am wrong but Polycarbonate has dangerous gases too.

I just know it cuts like crap. It puts the carbon back into polycarbonate.

Oblarg 20-01-2017 14:03

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchskull (Post 1634015)
Correct me if I am wrong but Polycarbonate has dangerous gases too.

Correct.

It also cuts like crap, though, so it's sort of immaterial.

cadandcookies 20-01-2017 14:04

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchskull (Post 1634015)
Correct me if I am wrong but Polycarbonate has dangerous gases too.

It generates benzene if I remember correctly, which is carcinogenic (even in places that aren't California).

Also doesn't cut well.

frcguy 20-01-2017 14:15

Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RoboChair (Post 1634003)
And PVC makes chlorine gas



Cut Kydex on laser, created chlorine gas. 0/10 would not recommend.

Edit: forgot to add it causes every steel part in your laser to rust. So yeah, don't cut PVC.

Andrew Schreiber 20-01-2017 14:16

Re: Polycarbonate/Plexiglass Ruling
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchskull (Post 1634015)
Correct me if I am wrong but Polycarbonate has dangerous gases too.

It's on our list - if I recall the training correctly it's partially because it cuts like crap too because it just melts.

We borrowed our list from http://atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser...HESE_MATERIALS


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