Slightly OT: tips for fabricating with plexiglass?

[Tom Hudson]

The special plastic bits have a different point angle (typically 90 
degrees vs. 118 degrees for a standard bit) making them work better with 
the relatively brittle Plex..  Go slowly with it.

If you can get it, I also recommend using "Lucite L", which is a type of 
plastic which is similar to Plexiglas but machines much more smoothly 
without the melting seen in standard Plexiglas.  I've turned Lucite L on 
a lathe and it cuts like butter, with nice clean shavings instead of 
sticky melted blobs.  Drills nicely too.

Good luck.

-Tom

Computer Collector Newsletter wrote:

>It's only "slightly" off-topic because what I'm building is a new case for my
>Apple 1 "Replica 1" board.
>
>I've heard some horror stories about whole (expensive!) sheets of plexiglass
>simply breaking in half when incorrectly drilled through.  The guy at the
>plastic supply company tried selling me a special drill bit, but I'm hesitant
>about that.  Does anyone has hands-on experience and tips (vs. just
>speculation) about working with this stuff?  This computer will be on display
>as some public events, so the final appearance is very important.
>
>  
>

-- 
Thomas Hudson
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