RE: [TCML] Spark gap assembly, acrylic?? and toroid size

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

I guess I wrote from a machinist's perspective.  Very soft plastics like polyethylene cannot easily be machined to a high tolerance in the same manor as say Lexan or Delrin.  It's not to say that it cannot be cut or drilled, just that it won't come out as nice.  Tapping is also likely to be a problem.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> Gary, when you say it does not machine well what exactly do you mean?  In my
> experience it is quite easy to machine.  Drilling through the stuff is a
> breeze, certainly far easier than plexiglass.  It's also cheaper than
> plexiglass.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Phillip Slawinski
> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:03 AM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Spark gap assembly, acrylic?? and toroid size
>
> On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 9:14 PM, Lau, Gary <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx> wrote:

<snip>

> > Lexan (trade name, same thing as polycarbonate) is clear and has the best
> > characteristics for machining.  It doesn't crack, is stable, cuts and
> > threads easily, glues with many different glue types.  You may need to go to
> > a plastics supplier to find it (yellow pages), though Home Depot sells
> > thinner sheets for shatterproof windows.
> >
> > Plexiglas (trade name, same thing as acrylic) is also clear, but is much
> > more difficult to machine.  Care must be exercised when cutting or drilling
> > so it doesn't crack.  Glues nicely, more common and less expensive than
> > Lexan.  Home Depot sells this for windows but for thicker stock you may need
> > to go to a plastics supplier.
> >
> > Polypropylene isn't commonly used for TC construction except as a
> > dielectric in commercial capacitors.
> >
> > Polyethylene is what the white plastic cutting boards are made of.  It's
> > relatively soft, does not machine well, and cannot easily be glued.  HDPE
> > stands for high density polyethelyne (milk jugs).  LDPE stands for low
> > density (plastic bags).

<snip>
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