Re: Gluing polycarbonate?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Scott,

At 08:46 PM 6/30/2006, you wrote:
> Terry -
>
> Forget using the 2-part epoxy unless you plasma-etch or sandblast 
> the areas you want to bond. Very few epoxies will create a reliable 
> long-term bond to polycarbonate unless the surface is specially prepped.

Yes, I did not know if there was any "reasonable" way to glue it.  It 
turns out sort of like trying to glue Teflon I guess (am am sure DOW 
has a number of highly toxic primers though...)  I use G-11 for 
robots and you can glue that like a rock...  But I'll put Lexan in 
the Teflon gluability category.  But the Envirotex stuff sticks fine 
for that low stress thing (cleaned with 91% iso) ;-))


> Since polycarbonate (Lexan, etc) is so sensitive to solvent-induced 
> stress cracking, most adhesives designed specifically for bonding 
> polycarbonate are 2-part reactive systems based on acrylic or 
> urethane resins. Most of the plastics fabrication shops I am 
> familiar with here in So. California use adhesives from IPS Weld-On.
>
> See their line of adhesives specifically designed for compatability 
> with polycarbonate at: 
> http://www.ipscorp.com/industrial/polycarb.html    If you want to 
> try any of these, and you can't find them locally, let me know and I 
> can pick some up at the plastics shop I visit every week.
>
> This being said, I'd recommend using  mechanical fasteners (nylon 
> screws) for securing your end plate. No matter how you look at it, 
> multiple fasteners will never fail instantly & catastrophically like 
> an adhesive bond can,

Done ;-))

http://drsstc.com/~sisg/files/SISG-coil/TopPlate.JPG

The plates already have full alignment holes for the turntable on the 
mill, so adding the holes, taping, drilling was like a 20 minute 
job...  I like being able to take it apart in case the connecter 
comes loose or bugs make a nest inside.

Yes..., I am on of these naughty people that has never used internal 
baffles too :o)))

> and who wants to see their nice Freau toroid with a big ding in the side ....

:o))))  They look like this!!

http://hot-streamer.com/TeslaCoils/Misc/dent.jpg

The dent goes to the "back :-)))  Hopefully the shinny coil will 
distract ones view from it :o)))

Cheers,

        Terry


> Regards,
> Scott Hanson