Thread: cuting plexi
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Unread 08-02-2009, 08:13
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Mike Betts Mike Betts is offline
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Re: cuting plexi

Quote:
Originally Posted by morganh2550 View Post
what is the most efficient way to cut plexi-glass
Although it has been hinted at in this thread, I wanted to be sure that you knew that Plexiglas is different than polycarbonate.

I know that the difference may appear to be semantic to us electrical types but it is important. If you hit Plexiglass with a hammer it will violently shatter whereas polycarbonate is so resilient that it is used in most saftey glasses you and your team wear in the pits...

The impact resistance of polycarbonate extends to tooling as well. Polycarbonate can be cut in a sheet metal shear, bent on a brake and drilled or machined easily. Plexiglas is not nearly as machinable.

My team always uses polycarbonate on our robots and we never use Plexiglass. This not only gives us a more robust robot but also increases the safety margin for the students working on the robot.

JMHO

Mike
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Mike Betts

Alumnus, Team 3518, Panthrobots, 2011
Alumnus, Team 177, Bobcat Robotics, 1995 - 2010
LRI, Connecticut Regional, 2007-2010
LRI, WPI Regional, 2009 - 2010
RI, South Florida Regional, 2012 - 2013

As easy as 355/113...

Last edited by Mike Betts : 08-02-2009 at 08:15.