Acrylic Fabrication

[Rare Bird]

Anyone know a top notch Acrylic fabricator that can actually do something properly? :lol:

[JazzBones]

Anyone know a top notch Acrylic fabricator that can actually do something properly? :lol:

Andre, have a look see at SRM-TECH-Audio Products/Hi-Fi-Accessories, He makes turntables, covers, platters, etc. I once contacted him to make me a TT cover but did not follow through as the money had to go elswhere. Looking at the prices I don't think his stuff comes cheapo.

Ron :)

[Rare Bird]

Still looking

[YNWaN]

I have experience with fabricating acrylic. The problem is that there is a range of specific fabrication techniques and they give quite different results and are priced quite differently.

1/ edges can be butt jointed - a square cut edge is offered up to another. They are chemically bonded with a solvent like Tensol. The problem is that the solvent is offered up to the joint and flows into it by capillary action - it is easy to make minor mistakes and any over-run will mark the delicate surface. The joint isn't very strong and if transparent is used he glue can be seen.

2/ as above, but the edges are mitred. A jig is definitely requited and it is difficult to do this neatly - the same problems exist as in 1.

3/ the edge of the plastic is rebated (CNC routed) to create a lip that the next piece buts against. A small gap is accounted for an this is filled with a thicker glue that has the same refractive index. The whole surfaces are then post sanded after construction and then polished back to transparent - this is by far the best method but very much more expensive.

Method 1 is that used by a well known manufacturer of plastic cased amplifiers (although he seems to believe that acrylic is some magical form of glass and not a plastic at all! - how we laughed).

[Neil McCauley]

Hi. Suggest you talk to Michell Eng. 020 8953 0771. I've found them very helpful in passing on such information. When John was around there were 3 suppliers he favoured. They were individually specialists in differing aspects. One had solved the problem of being 18mm Plexiglass through a right-angle. Clever!

[YNWaN]

Strip heater, hot air gun and jig.

[Neil McCauley]

Strip heater, hot air gun and jig.

Not for 18mm it isn't. John tried. Went through 'n' sheets of the stuff. Eventually found someone who could do it without ripples. The 'Prisma' is one example.

[Rare Bird]

All i require is 5mm acrylic bending into 45 degrees, i don't want any stress on the bend only other thing is a single 6'' diameter cut out.

[YNWaN]

Anyone with a strip heater should be able to do that no problem - a laser cutter is best for cutting out the shape as it polishes the edges as it cuts - 5mm isn't difficult to shape in my experience.

If you say so Howard, I only have first hand experience to go on. However, I've never actually tried to form 18mm (10/12mm yes), but there are a limited range of applicable techniques (it doesn't seem very relevant in this situation mind you) - thick sheets are sometimes heated in an oven and drape formed over a former; such a technique is rarely used for something as simple as a single bend though. It would be more common to find thick sheets cut and fabricated.

[RochaCullen]

I've had a few conversations with these guys:

http://www.plasticonline.co.uk/

You will notice that they do hi-fi related things like TT covers etc. Their prices are a lot more reasonable than you will find elsewhere.

Hope this helps,

Nathan