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#158707 - 03/05/2003 10:02 Transparent acrylic sheet supplier?
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Can someone point me in the direction of a supplier for acrylic sheets in 1/16" thicknesses. I am particularly interested in neon colors. I've checked out Tap Plastics but am looking for other colors.

Thanks.

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#158708 - 03/05/2003 10:22 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
justinlarsen
old hand

Registered: 31/12/2001
Posts: 1109
Loc: Petaluma, CA
I know RobRicc's company used to sell them, but i belive its only in large orders, he might jump onto this pos im sure since he would have more details
_________________________
---- Justin Larsen

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#158709 - 03/05/2003 10:24 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: justinlarsen]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
If you're talking about the gels, I don't think they're quite that thick. Anyway, we do not require large orders. You can even order direct from our cheesey Yahoo Store.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#158710 - 03/05/2003 16:23 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: robricc]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Thanks but I'm actually looking for acrylic that looks fluorescent or neon along a cut edge when light is shown behind it.

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#158711 - 03/05/2003 16:26 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
Online is USPlastics

Glenn
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Glenn

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#158712 - 03/05/2003 17:07 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
My site will be going back up if I can come up with the money to renew it. There are quite a few of my loyal customers that convinced my to do it but I am going to change a couple things.

Hopefully it should be back up within a couple weeks tops. Maybe sooner if I can find the extra money somewhere.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158713 - 03/05/2003 18:29 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
jwickis
addict

Registered: 24/08/2000
Posts: 658
Loc: India
Good to hear that, hopefully my order from you will be coming soon.

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#158714 - 03/05/2003 18:54 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
Steve,
I'm not sure what hosting requirements you have. But I can provide you with either FreeBSD hosting, or Windows hosting completely free of charge, unless you start using a couple hundred gigs of bandwidth a month. I tried to send you a private message, but I noticed your not accepting them. Anyways, if you’re interested, let me know. I would love to be able to help out in anyway possible.
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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#158715 - 03/05/2003 22:23 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: gbeer]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Thanks, I'll give them a call to check if they also have 1/16".

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#158716 - 04/05/2003 09:45 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
Aragon
member

Registered: 17/05/2002
Posts: 148
Loc: Cape Town, South Africa
Along with Oliver, I can also help with hosting depending on the requirements. Feel free to contact me.


Regards,
Aragon

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#158717 - 04/05/2003 16:25 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Is there some particular project you're looking at making or just looking at putting me out of the couple of dollars I make on a lens because of my backlog this year?

Because if it's the latter, this year has had absolutely horrible circumstances for me which has caused this major backlog.

My history of serving the community over the past couple of years has been very good. Ask any of my long time loyal customers not the few new customers that expect fast food convenience type service for a niche custom part out of what they mistakenly think is a full time full fledged business instead of the spare time hobby for the community business it is.

Also there was no need to worry about either of your orders Jeff. As I stated Here, I intend to honor all orders that I received until the site went down.

As for the offer on the site hosting guys that would be great but the site I'm at (It's still there just not accessible at the moment) was tolerable for me and pretty easy to use. It was just with all of the problems this year I wasn't able to make enough in profit to renew the site before it went down so I'm going to have to steal money from some bills here and there to get it back up.
And though I was pretty much satisfied with them I could have used more storage space and cgi or something similar. Even though I don't know how to program that stuff I can build a basic web page with the Dreamweaver program I have. Plus I would still have to use Tucows (that's who my account was with) or someone else to some extent for my domain name registration which is also through them.
That is unless I misunderstand how the whole process works. (You know, I tested for IQ at 142 in my mid 20's but the older I get I think it's dropping point by point )
I would have only liked to have those things (space, cgi, etc...) because I could have made the site a little more functional for the customers the way I wanted and I couldn't find the javascript to do the equivalent.

Paul had offered to help me out with it but I just haven't been able to put the time in to find the examples of how I wanted it to work.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158718 - 04/05/2003 17:06 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
Steve,
I can offer you a cgi-bin directory, php, perl, ssi, mysql, asp, etc... Tucows is your domain registar, you would have to update your DNS servers that your domain points too, tucows probably has a web based admin panel to do this. You would still have to pay the $15+/year for your domain name, I can't get around that, but at least you wouldn't have to pay for webhosting.

All of our accounts start at 20mb of disk space, but if you would need more than 20mb, that is not a problem. I'm pretty sure we could handle any server side features you could possibly need.

Anyways, its an option to bring your operating costs down a little bit, I guess just my way of saying thanks for all the hard work steve.
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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#158719 - 04/05/2003 17:16 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
I am looking at making a lens for 303's fascia for my own use. I have access to laser cutting service that can do depth cutting and wanted to see if the neon effect carries over in 1/16" acrylic.

As far as making a business out of making lenses? No, I have neither the time nor inclination to do so. If I learn anything of use, I'm more than happy to share it with you and the forum.

I do hope you are able to continue making the lenses for everyone. As an upside, I would expect that if Casting_Fool is able to create the new buttons/fascia then demand for the lenses would pick up for you again.

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#158720 - 04/05/2003 17:18 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: oliver]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
They give me 25meg. I would kind of like to have at least 50 to 100 for this and other project I have in mind ( If I ever find time for them).
It's appreciated. I don't know how to do the programming part of it but I will keep it in mind as an option though.
I'll let you know if I need it.
Thanks Oliver.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158721 - 04/05/2003 17:20 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
50-100mb of disk space is not a problem. The only problem would be if you started to use alot of bandwidth. 100's of gb/month
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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#158722 - 04/05/2003 17:40 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: oliver]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
If I ended up using the offer that would not be a problem. The 1 project I have in mind that would use the most space is an archive site for old magazine tech articles for Lincoln LSC's, 5.0 Mustangs, Old custom car features, How-to projects on all sorts of things (car tuning, engine building, electronic projects, etc, etc) all in pdf formats.
It wouldn't be anything like streaming media or the like.
So it would be for the hobby business (Empeg/Custom Vinyl/ Lincoln & other car repro vinyl/ specialty article archives). All pretty much geared to the few bbs communities I belong to.

I should know what I'm going to do in the next 1-2 weeks though.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158723 - 04/05/2003 20:16 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
In reply to:

I am looking at making a lens for 303's fascia for my own use. I have access to laser cutting service that can do depth cutting and wanted to see if the neon effect carries over in 1/16" acrylic.




I have a 303 Fascia on loan from Paul to me for prototyping. So I will be offering them. I also have a Laser system at work and when it's not tied up I try to get the 1/16 Clear and Smoke made on it.

As far as finding neon material in 1/16th. Good Luck. I have not been able to so far and secondly I don't think you'll have a very good effect if you intend on doing something similar to my Neons. I.E. making a raised portion to simulate a neon ring.
Especially if you do it on the Laser. 1. At best you'll have only a 1/32nd thick lip which would probably not be enough and 2. The laser just by the inherent nature of how the systems work will probably warp the lens when you burn off the extra material to leave a lip for the ring effect.
I'm not trying to rain on your idea. I just don't see it working like I think your intending. I've been in the plastics business too long.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158724 - 04/05/2003 20:25 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Thanks for the advice. I would be interested in the new fascia lenses when you get up and running on them.

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#158725 - 04/05/2003 20:35 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
I'll announce when they're ready but right now any extra time I have I need to put into catching up all the past orders.

They'll show up it's just gonna take a little bit before they do.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158726 - 04/05/2003 21:32 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31596
Loc: Seattle, WA
The laser just by the inherent nature of how the systems work will probably warp the lens when you burn off the extra material to leave a lip for the ring effect.
What about a flat neon lens with simply a laser-etched "line" instead of a full "mesa" cutaway?

Isn't that neon material meant to be able to have etched lettering that seems to light up when side-lit? I don't think it would take that deep of a cut to make a visible glowing line in the neon material.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#158727 - 04/05/2003 23:36 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: tfabris]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
True. But he is trying to find 1/16th neon material and therein lies the problem. Your idea although there's less laser time on the lens, hence less chance to warp it leaves a couple other problems.
It is still only going to be 1/32" deep which wouldn't be enough to be visible considering the fact that a laser cutting systems cut a hairline for one pass. In order to see it at all he would have to widen the thickness of the cut pattern to a minimum of 1/8 inch which increases immensly the amount of passes and reintroduces a heat and warp factor and will still be hardly visible because of the depth. Part of the neon effect not only comes from the material formulation but also the angle of viewing so the fact that when you see the effect with mine you are roughly viewing from an average of 45° angle. And also would leave an 1/8" wide groove with only a 1/32" left of material holding it there and that would make the lens effectively a knockout piece with one good bump on the face.
Another reason is I don't think he will be able to find neon material in 1/16th inch. I had a hard time even finding 1/16" Smoke. The only reason I did is down here in Fort Lauderdale is there are a few airplane remodelers here and they are one of the biggest purchasers of it. They use it for some kind of windows inside the Leer type jets.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158728 - 05/05/2003 04:00 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Greetings!

Why is there something wonderfully appropriate having a smoke lens for the empeg's airfoil fascia design made out of the same stuff used for Leer jet windows???
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#158729 - 05/05/2003 04:19 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: pgrzelak]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Greetings my Best Online Friend!

In answer to your question....
Karma for such a near perfect product?
Best answer I can think of.
_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

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#158730 - 10/05/2003 23:04 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
jwickis
addict

Registered: 24/08/2000
Posts: 658
Loc: India
Alright, I hadn't heard from you for awhile, website gone, no email and no PM acceptance tends to make a person wonder. I don't expect fast food service but four months seemed a bit long to me and you did tell me one more week, one more. I'm not trying to be a bad person about this but no contact does feed that. I tried contacting you via other means but that wasn't possible. I guess I must be the only person asking about my order.
Thanks for the notice.

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#158731 - 11/05/2003 08:22 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: DarkStorm]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
I still haven't been able to locate the 1/16". We were able to depth cut some lenses in 1/8" stock. We haven't tried it on the non-neon 1/6" stock yet. There is some faint scorching along side the depth cuts but its minor.

As a test, some non-neon 1/8" material was depth cut but as we guessed, it was very difficult to notice any difference.

Overall, I think this will work if I can find some 1/16" stock. The 1/8" does not fit 303's fascia at all. I know that you are busy but have you been able to test this yet?



Attachments
158747-lens.jpg (131 downloads)



Edited by Mach (11/05/2003 08:25)

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#158732 - 11/05/2003 08:39 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
...if there was ever a design / layout that needed an illuminated buttonhack... It looks good, but it just cries out to have that knob and LEDs glowing too.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#158733 - 11/05/2003 19:30 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: pgrzelak]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Agreed! As soon as the illuminated button kits are available, it will be installed.

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#158734 - 11/05/2003 20:45 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
belezeebub
addict

Registered: 11/01/2001
Posts: 579
This Sounds like my mostly failed attempt at a rainbow lens

I got sheet of Clear plastic hand Cut it with my trusty Rusty dremal tool and Applied Drops, Lines, rings and Blobos of Clear Color to the back of the lens... It would have worked if I could have found a Plastic that had a anti-reflective coating.

First lens

I covered the lens with 1/16 inch Strips of Circit Etch Tap (I found some in my junk box) then I removed them one at a time and Applied the ColorDarkest to lightest top to bottom.

2. second try random Blobs

3. Third try Getting Miffed at this point Circles smaller to larger starting in the center and working out towarsds the edge of the display

4. Fourth try Printed a Bunch of Random colors on a Sheet of Overhead film

Color was too washed out on all of them and Display was nearly inpossable to see in sunlight (Mostly because of the glare)



Edited by belezeebub (11/05/2003 20:51)
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______________________________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of Network Administrators, for they are subtle and quick to anger. ______________________________________ Worlds Lamest Wb Site (mine) http://home.comcast.net/~jlipchitz/

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#158735 - 11/05/2003 20:53 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: belezeebub]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Like this?



Found in this thread

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#158736 - 11/05/2003 21:14 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
belezeebub
addict

Registered: 11/01/2001
Posts: 579
Anyone Still have the Pattern File in that Link ?? I Tried to Download it and got a 404 error
_________________________
______________________________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of Network Administrators, for they are subtle and quick to anger. ______________________________________ Worlds Lamest Wb Site (mine) http://home.comcast.net/~jlipchitz/

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#158737 - 12/05/2003 04:28 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: belezeebub]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
IIRC, I have it but it will be awhile before I can get it to you. Unles someone else sends it, I can send it to you when I'm back in Paris in a couple of weeks.

I'd also be interested in a copy of the CAD file for the aluminum fascia that CruzThs/Beaker had. His website seems to be gone also. If anyone has it, please let me know.

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#158738 - 12/05/2003 08:36 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: Mach]
mrfixit
enthusiast

Registered: 14/06/2002
Posts: 337
This one? I think i have some other pics of that fascia too. I wish somone would make it
_________________________
Ben
mk2a 60gig green/Greenlights Buttons
mk2a 60gig green/Greenlights Buttons
mk2a 40gig blue no illumination....yet
hijacked

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#158739 - 12/05/2003 09:49 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: mrfixit]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Yes, that's the one but the link to the fascia files is broken.

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#158740 - 12/05/2003 10:19 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: jwickis]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
J, just so you know... you aren't the only person inquiring about your order. There have been other threads, and a number of folks who haven't spoken up about it.
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|| loren ||

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#158741 - 16/07/2003 16:28 Re: Transparent acrylic sheet supplier? [Re: belezeebub]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Looks like the link is back up if you are still interested

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/marcus.wakefield/empeg/downloads/empeg_screen_V5.0.cdr.zip

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