Thread: Where do your teams purchase your polycarbonate?
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Unread 10-12-2014, 07:52
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AKA: Jim Grove
FRC #1915 (Firebird Robotics)
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Re: Where do your teams purchase your polycarbonate?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrRoboSteve View Post
For midwestern teams, supposedly Menards has this in the building materials area. I've never looked for it.
We have found thicker stuff locally in DC. When I was stationed in Tampa a few years ago, Home Depot stocked the thick stuff, about 3/8" thick. We bought a few sheets of the 6 mm three years ago, and still have some stock on hand.

Here is our 2012 robot at an off season event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtHswvX3S1A

The use of the multiwall polycarbonate as both armor and billboard space is quite evident on that robot. Fastens well enough with velcro and a bolt/washer/wingnut. Tough, light, and flexible enough to take a beating. Never seen a panel break yet. We typically cut it with a jigsaw or a bandsaw. (Yes, you can use a box cutter/blade, but that is a tough way to do it.) Drills easily, although I'd not depend on the drill holes for any kind of close tolerance machining.
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Jim Grove, Mentor
firebirds1915.blogspot.com
(2007-2017) 1915, McKinley Tech HS, Washington, DC
(2009) 2932, Mid-Pac Institute, Honolulu, HI (Rookie Season)
(2011) 2425, Hillsborough HS, Tampa, FL
(2013-2015) 4464, College Park, MD, 2013 Rookie All Star Winner and 2014 Regional Champions, Washington, DC

FIRST is not rocket science. But it is like drinking from a fire hose.