Re: Questions about mill enclosures..

Peter, that's an interesting observation.

Most plastics suppliers will tell you that polycarbonate is more
sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons, and will craze in the vicinity of
many metalworking fluids/ solvents. Whereas acrlic is not affected
nearly so much...

Did your acylic covers and enclosures crack due to localised
mechanical stress? (becasue as you say, acrylic is not near as "tough"
as polycarbonate...)

Ballendo


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Peter Renolds <prenolds@s...>
wrote:

> Hi Ian,
>
> I would recommend polycarbonate (Lexan) over acrylic. I've made

several

> covers and enclosures and I always find the acrylic ones don't last

long

> before they crack. Lexan is much MUCH tougher. As for cleaning, I

just

> use air first, then WD40 on a cloth.
>
> As for coolant, my setup is on a Bridgeport clone but I use mist

coolant

> - mine is made by Kool Mist and the concentrate is "Formula 78". I
> control the source of air via an air solenoid (electically

operated) and

> so when my program starts, it turns on coolant via an M10 and off

via

> M11 but other systems may differ. This is probably overkill for a
> Sherline, but the principle should still be valid.
>
> It would probably help others to suggest things if you describe

what

> materials you are cutting etc.
>
> Cheers, Peter
>
>
>
> Ian Grimwood wrote:
>
> >Couple questions for assembled "experts".
> >
> >1. I'm looking to make an enclosure for my new Sherline 5400CNC
> >machine. I'm favoring Plastic and more specifically acrylic.

Will

> >acrylic withstand cutting fluid etc or will it be attached? I'm

looking to

> >make it a fully enclosed box with a front and back that will be

hinged and

> >large enough to leave room to adjust and set-up the mill. Are

there any

> >major pitfalls I should lookout for?
> >
> >2. Does anyone know of a cheap and efficient coolant system for

a

> >sherline.. if the machine is cnc I don't want to have to be

applying the

> >coolant/lubricant. Preferable controllable...
> >
> >3. Any preferred coolants out there? Are some bad for use on a

Sherline?

> >
> >
> >