As summer comes to a close so does an experiment we ran at our Vancouver branch. While we try to minimize our offcuts, so as to reduce the amount of wasted material we create, we are still left with little bits here and there. Throughout the years our Marketing department, who handle our online inquiries, has noticed a number of customers asking about small pieces – which are apparently very difficult to find. We had the idea of taking stock of some offcuts and seeing if anyone would be interested in some small bits…Turns out they were!
Goto JVC to know more.
Some projects we had come across our desks:
-PTFE base for a home telescope
-Phenolic saw guides
-“Wheel-less” dynamic surface for a sliding wardrobe door
-Acrylic table surfaces (quite a few of these)
-Polycarbonate for boat hatches
What did we learn? A lot. It was a great learning experience for ourselves and the customers. On the positive side we learned how creative the public can be with industrial plastics, particularly with the telescope and wardrobe that used UHMW strips as an ultra-low friction sliding surface. Also, it was interesting on how large of size “offcuts” were requested of us – often approaching 3/4 of a full sheet. Certainly there was no shortage of desire for industrial plastics and for so many different applications. It was refreshing to work on something new.
Unfortunately, those larger offcuts seemed to come in at prices that disappointed some customers, despite special pricing. Industrial plastics are an excellent material but they are not cheap like everyday consumer plastics. The larger offcut sizes in particular meant some disappointed customers could only be quoted on full sheet for their application at the regular price.
However, overall it was an interesting experiment and one we’ll continue to run as we gather more information on how to increase the footprint of industrial plastics.
One UHMW application that is becoming increasingly popular is the use of UHMW sheet for jet boat applications. UHMW sheet, usually the UV-stabilized reprocessed black, is affixed to the hull to protect the boat and prevent damage for boating in shallow waters. When you think of it, anything from logs to protruding metal could be a hazard. UHMW is an excellent choice because it absorbs no moisture, is easy to work with, and has a very low coefficient of friction. A sheet will cost you a few hundred dollars; however, the performance and protection your boat recieves is well worth the cost. Think this is your type of challenge? There are many online resources for “diy” jet boat builders. Take a look at a few we found in a quick online search*:
http://www.highcaliberbc.ca/jetboatmain.html
http://www.meanchicken.net/webmain/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/-UHMW-bottom
http://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=
*Redwood Plastics has not verified any of the information available on any of the resources/websites provided. We take no responsibility for any damage or injury resulting from working on an application using the information in those resources. They are provided for our reader’s interest only.
This one is in honor of the never-ending North American winter of . Yes, it’s almost spring, but does it feel that way?
UHMW (polyethylene) plastic is one of the most affordable and versatile of the mechanical/engineering plastics. Two of its properties are a very low coefficient of friction and zero moisture absorption. In fact, it is so slick it makes excellent synthetic ice for skating rinks. UHMW has been used for decades in arctic regions as sled rails; however, it works very well on recreational toboggans as well.
The toboggan pictured here was built by an enthusiast of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This is a protected area in Minnesota, which (apparently) has some excellent sledding! The material used appears to be the black reprocessed UHMW.
However, a simpler option may exist, especially if your toboggan is metallic. 1/4″ or 3/8″ thick UHMW sheet comes in a standard 4′ x 10′ size. Ten feet is a significant length and it means a liner that you can affix to the bottom of the sled can be formed out of a single sheet. In the case of the toboggan pictured, the sled builder sold another length cut out of the same sheet to his friend.
If you have the correct tools, it is possible to counter sink holes in the bottom of the sheet and then affix with bolts to the existing frame of the toboggan. The additional slickness will make for one great ride!
Plastics can have a variety of additives mixed in with their resins during manufacturing. This could be liquid or solid lubricants, glass or other chemicals like molybdenum disulphide (in nylon). One common additive is carbon black and it is a particularly important for “do-it-yourselfers” to understand. Carbon black is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of various tars.
Carbon black is primarily added to plastics to provide UV-resistance. It absorbs harmful UV-radiation, particularly the UV-b rays, which are so damaging to many plastics. Carbon black also is used as a reinforcing agent in rubber – your tires undoubtably have carbon black. Carbon black in tires provides increased strength and wear resistance, without it your tires would likely be destroyed the first time they were “curbed”.
However, what you might not know when it comes to plastic is that carbon black makes the plastic conductive. Many plastics are naturally good electrical insulators but the addition of carbon black could compromise this. This is particularly important to note with plastics such as UHMW and HDPE where a grade with carbon black could mean reprocessed material. This material is cheaper and may be selected by the home machinist simply due to the reduced cost – without understanding what the addition of carbon black does.
For more information be sure to contact a professional in the plastics industry.
Home machinists are often bewildered by the wide variety of plastics available. Each plastic has its own advantages and disadvantages. Two that seem similar to the uninformed are acetal and UHMW. However, as the YouTube video we found shows – machining the two materials is very different. Acetal is extremely hard and machines to close tolerances without “gumming” up lathes. UHMW on the other is soft and is difficult to machine and suffers from thermal expansion. Both materials are impervious to moisture and come in FDA compliant forms. Price is a major factor between the two as UHMW is much more economical and this means for projects that do not require maximum precision, UHMW will usually perform very well. An example “diy” UHMW application would be sled tracks, popular in Arctic locations.
Acetal, as you might expect, performs better in precise – typically small – parts. Acetal is also extremely hard and can replace metals (and is often marketed for that reason), such as in the case of the paintball marker bolts highlighted in one of our recent blog postings. For more information check out these acetal and UHMW website sub-pages and watch this video that shows some of the machining differences:
At first glance an article on a Friday in mid-July regarding sled tracks might seem a little strange. However, readers up North know that the time to prepare for an early winter is now. Engineering plastics have valuable applications even in the hostile arctic.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of uhmw manufacturers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Polyethylene, particularly UHMW-PE, has earned some press in recent years used as synthetic ice for skate training purposes. Both materials have a low coefficient of friction and are desirable for many sliding applications.
Truth is UHMW has been used for years by resourceful individuals as sled tracks because when the sled contacts ice via an extremely slick substance, like UHMW, friction is decreased and the sled moves better with less energy applied. As a bonus UHMW is commonly available in white, which meshes well with the ice or snow it runs on.
Every one of these projects is a custom-build. There are no real set guidelines to using UHMW for a sled beside the following:
1.) It is the UHMW that must be in contact with the ground. Do not have some wood and some UHMW in contact at the same time – this defeats the purpose.
2.) UHMW must be mechanically fastened to the sled. Although some companies recommend various substances to bond or “glue” UHMW, as plastic experts we want you to know this is very difficult and we always recommend mechanical fastening for UHMW.
3.) 1/4″ thick material seems to be the thickness material most people are using.
Although this is an application for true “do-it-yourselfers” and we cannot engineer a sled for you, our seven branches always carry UHMW sheet and would be happy to cut rails or tracks to your specifications from material you purchase. If that interests you please do not hesitate in dropping us a line:
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CDN: 1 800 667
USA: 1 866 733
This project is not really a “how to” but is showcasing a neat little application a client of ours did (and was kind enough to supply us with pictures). Our Vancouver branch had been approached by Shaun Car, member of a UBC mechatronic (robotics) engineering group who needed to build a rover. The material had a few requirements: no moisture absorption, easy to machine and as cheap as possible. The students wanted 3 feet of 2″ diameter rod they could machine into track wheels and pulleys.
It is probably not a shock that we’re rarely approached about plastics for robot parts. So it was somewhat difficult to suggest a material. UHMW fit the needs as far as moisture resistance, price and machinability but there were concerns over its low coefficient of friction – would the UHMW be too slippery to be used as track wheels?
Nylon was suggested as an alternative with its higher coefficient of friction. However, the students decided to go with UHMW in respect to their budget. Kudos to them as they pulled it off! For the track wheels and larger pulleys the UHMW worked fine, though at “high torque” levels the material was too slippery for the smaller pulleys but overall the material worked fine and the rover is a success.
The “moral” of this story is that engineering plastics serve a purpose solving problems big or small and can do so affordably to boot!
For help on your application big or small contact us today
:
CDN: 1 800 667
USA: 1 866 733
Wood, especially Orford Cedar is becoming scarce and more expensive for boat builders and marine applications. Redwood Plastics has many solutions for the marine industry including boat ribs, non-slip decking, bearings, bushings, liners and skid shoes.
Redco™ UHMW is non-corrosive, it will not rot or rust and it is easy to machine and fabricate.
Redco FRP Grating (Prismagrate) is also available. Prismagrate is a low cost, maintenance free material for docks, ramps and decks.
Redco™ UHMW Skid Plate – Boat Bottom Protection
A Redco™ UHMW Skid Plate (skid shoe) is an abrasion resistant that has outlasted steel in many applications. When attached to the bottom of wooden drift boats, Redco™ UHMW makes your boat impervious to the abrasion of river rock and gravel bars. The skid plate is simply attached to the bottom of the boat with stainless steel screws.
Redco™ UHMW Boat Ribs – Innovative Building Materials
The perfect, low cost replacement to wood. Redco™ UHMW boat ribs will not rot or rust and have outstanding durability with a high tensile strength.
Redco FRP Grating – PRISMAGRATE Docks and Walkways
PRISMAGRATE FRP GRATING provides durability with extremely high strength and stiffness.
MINI-MESH helps to prevent small tools and other objects from dropping through to the ground beneath. Lightweight MINI-MESH panels are readily removable and allow for easy access under the installation.
CLICK HERE for other Marine Applications.
http://www.redwoodplastics.com
CDN: -667-
USA: -733-
UHMW (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) offers a combination of exceptional properties. This thermoplastic material is tough with superior impact strength. It is corrosion-resistant and exhibits virtually no water absorption. It is also wear-resistant, non-sticking and self-lubricating.
UHMW is an excellent choice for many industrial applications. It reduces noise and vibration, is chemical-resistant and non-toxic and offers excellent mechanical properties even in cryogenic conditions. Characteristics include:
Contact a Dielectric Manufacturing knowledge expert to discuss the use of UHMW polyethylene for fabrication of your plastic parts. Call 800-367- or .
We also are a distributor of UHMW polyethylene material. Contact us about fulfilling your material needs and to get a quote.
Are you interested in learning more about uhmwpe producers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!