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| Brass_Machine:
So I am taking on a project for a family member. Looking to machine some plastic (of some sort)... Now I have worked with delrin and others, but nothing like he wants. Is the a plastic (or something) that is clear (IE tube or rod) that cam be machined and remain (or polished back) to clear. Like acrylic or polycarbonate? can that be machined? Eric |
| Brass_Machine:
Thanks Kenneth! Did you give thought to my other question? Eric |
| Bogstandard:
Eric, Acrylic and polycarbonate can easily be machined. Keep the feeds and speeds fairly low, otherwise you will melt the material rather than cut. If possible, use razor sharp new tooling for the job. I do a fair amount of it, and if you are careful, with a soft buff and a very fine polishing compound the edges can be brought back to a perfect finish. Again, you have to be very careful not to heat up the edges, otherwise they will burn and 'string'. You can polish back by hand using the finer grades of metal or silver polishes and soft cloth (old t-shirt). The way commercial people get the smooth edge and shine back is either with a flame, or chemically, by feeding the edges thru the fumes of certain chemicals, of which I have know idea which ones they use. John |
| Spurry:
In one of Guy Lautard's books (No 3 page 66), he mentions Vanishing Oil to obtain a transparent finish when tapping and machining plastics. I wonder if anyone had any experience of its use, and if it was available in the UK. Pete |
| Brass_Machine:
--- Quote from: Da_Kengineer_Meister on March 23, 2011, 04:54:41 PM ---... If that wasn't the other question, let me know... --- End quote --- Your PMs :poke: |
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