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Where to get cut PlexiGlass

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LAN_403

Alfons

Fri Mar 24 2006, 09:24PM

Registered Member #134 Joined: Fri Feb 10 2006, 10:44PM
Location: Belgium
Posts: 86

Hi,

I'd like to build my own electrophoresis chamber out of plexiglass and I found a very good DIY guide, but to be able to construct it, I need plexiglass.

Of course PlexiGlass is available here in Belgium, but I didn't find any company who wanted to pre-cut it for me, and I don't have the right equipment to do it myself.

I need the following:

â—¦ 2 pieces: 3-3/4â€ by Â½â€ by Â½â€ thick - for Gel Carrier Sides
â—¦ 1 piece: 3-3/4â€ by 3-3/4â€ by Â¾â€ thick - for Gel Carrier Base
â—¦ 2 pieces: 7-1/2â€ by 2-1/2â€ by Â¼â€ thick - for Chamber Long Sides
â—¦ 2 pieces: 3-7/8â€ by 2-1/2â€ by Â¼â€ thick - for Chamber Short Sides
â—¦ 2 pieces: 7-1/2â€ by 5â€ by Â¼â€ thick - for Chamber Lid and Chamber Bottom
â—¦ 1 piece: 7-1/2â€ by 1-1/4â€ by Â¼â€ thick - for Chamber Lid Front
â—¦ 6 pieces: Â½â€ long pieces of 3/8â€ dowel or square rod - for pegs

If anyone knows where to get it, or if anyone is able to cut these pieces for me, please tell me! If anyone of you is interested to cut the pieces for me (I will pay for it, of course), please PM me.

Thanks.

HV Enthusiast

Fri Mar 24 2006, 10:32PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Try your local machine shop. They will order the stock materials and machine it to the size you need it. It won't be cheap though.

GimpyJoe

Fri Mar 24 2006, 10:39PM

Registered Member #316 Joined: Mon Mar 13 2006, 01:30PM
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 212

To cut plexiglass I've found the best method is to use a cheap soldering gun as a hot-knife. Just use a metal straightedge and go slowly, scoring the plexiglass as deeply as possible. Then place the spot you scored exactly on the edge of a table and snap the plexi. After this you can sand the edges and run a torch flame over them to get a shiny transparent edge. Takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but I've never had any problems.

FastMHz

Fri Mar 24 2006, 10:51PM

Registered Member #179 Joined: Thu Feb 16 2006, 02:08AM
Location: Hagerstown, Maryland - Close to Prime Outlets
Posts: 287

I just run it through my table saw with a plywood blade which has a ton of very small teeth. Run masking tape on both sides of the cut and it'll be a perfect edge. You could do it with a standard circular saw too.

AndrewM

Sat Mar 25 2006, 01:29AM

Registered Member #49 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:05AM
Location: Bigass Pile of Penguins
Posts: 362

the score and snap method is good, but if you have a wide piece, and don't have a good clamping solution when you snap it, you'll very likely get breaks that creep away from your score lines. Not to mention the fact that the edges of a snapped piece arent very clean.

Plain old table saws work pretty nice. Keep your hands away, and dust is hot and pointy, but it cuts readily and cleanly. Band and scroll saws work well too, with obvious limitations. Dremels and soldering irons are both not very good, the plastic deforms and bubbles form the heat = ick.

Dr. Drone

Sat Mar 25 2006, 03:40AM

Registered Member #290 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:24PM
Location:
Posts: 1673

Hellmark

Sat Mar 25 2006, 03:48AM

Registered Member #189 Joined: Thu Feb 16 2006, 07:43PM
Location: Winfield, Missouri, USA
Posts: 46

Depending on the size, I've always used scroll saw or bandsaw. Those typically go at a good slow speed, if yours are meant more for wood.

For larger pieces with straight edges (like if you're doing a tank), I'd go with the tablesaw method with a fine blade. May be a bit overkill though, but would be the easiest way to keep the edges perfect.

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Sat Mar 25 2006, 05:08AM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

I have found that a diamond saw blade cuts plastics very well with an extremely fine rough end. It was so fine that after a few scrapes with a carbide kinfe it was ready for flame polishing and came out much better then the saw blade cuts earlier. No sanding was required.

I am wondering if a highly polished smooth razor-like blade without teeth would do a better job. this would be very interesting! Topic: Laminar flow to cut thermoplastics without distortion.

anyways, if you have a clean diamond blade they work well.

stop4stuff

Sat Mar 25 2006, 11:55AM

Registered Member #64 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:25AM
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 68

To cut plexiglass (or clear acrylic sheet) I print the design onto paper, stick the design to the plexi with pritstick (water based glue stick) and cut with a dremmel using a wood saw blade, or for more intricate shapes a file typ bit works well. The blade/bit gets hot real quick so it melts the plexi more than cuts.

Tipp

Sun Mar 26 2006, 11:52PM

Registered Member #215 Joined: Sun Feb 19 2006, 09:14PM
Location:
Posts: 30

I use a bandsaw with a woodcutting blade to cut mine. As long as you work slowly and steadily it works wonderfully. Just be sure to make relief cuts if you're doing long arcs or circles

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