geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: TINYisTOXIC on Thu, 28 February 2019, 11:28:35
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Polycarbonate, a strong plastic, much better than acrylic or generic abs cases seems to be nonexistent when it comes to 60% cases. I was wondering if it was possible to have it cut, or made for a 60% keyboard. Is it strong enough to be used as a plate? How pricey would it even be?
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My makerspace does not allow PC to be cut in the laser-cutter. The plastic smokes and catches fire easily. Smoke is very bad for a laser-cutter because it settles on the mirrors making them absorb the laser instead of reflecting it.
PC is sometimes laser-cut industrially though, but I think most firms do only sheets that are much thinner than what you would need for a plate.
So, likely, you would have to CNC-route it, which is more expensive, and you wouldn't get those clear, crisp edges that you would get with acrylic.
The plastic is also more expensive to begin with.
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Because of the reasons stated above, producing polycarbonate plates and parts is as expensive as aluminum parts.
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in general, polycarbonate is stronger yes, but more flexible without breaking. most thin sheets you can fold in half without them snapping/breaking. it's not as stiff/rigid as acrylic. Easily vacuum formable as well.
... also used in bullet proof glass, as well as MANY other applications.
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I have already make a Numpad case with polycarbonate ;).
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