Author Topic: Liquid plastic?  (Read 5981 times)

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Offline JoeTopic starter

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Liquid plastic?
« on: August 19, 2007, 07:45:56 PM »
I saw one of my school's old robots in the storage room and some of the parts were held on by this stuff... It looked kind of like they melted down a white piece of plastic on and under them and shaped it a little and let it harden again. It was pure white and smooth and very hard. They even had a servo mounted with it. Not the way I would mount a servo but it's on there and it ain't commin off lol. If there's something that comes out of a tube and hardens like plastic without shrinking it might be perfect to modify a plastic gripper I have but I have no clue what that stuff is and where to get it. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

Offline ed1380

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Re: Liquid plastic?
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2007, 05:24:02 AM »
I believe it's called vacuum forming.

thee was a great thread about it, where someone made their own
Problems making the $50 robot circuit board?
click here. http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=3292.msg25198#msg25198

Offline Admin

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Re: Liquid plastic?
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2007, 09:07:05 AM »

Offline dunk

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Re: Liquid plastic?
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2007, 09:25:50 AM »

Offline JoeTopic starter

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Re: Liquid plastic?
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2007, 03:10:02 PM »
Thanks so much for the replies. I'm still not sure what that stuff is but ShapeLock looks like it would work well for my purpose.

paulstreats

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Re: Liquid plastic?
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2007, 01:57:15 PM »
here is a product that maplin in the uk stocks:_

Quote
Polymorph


? The revolutionary plastic that melts in hot water and can be moulded by hand
? Hardens as it cools - strong as nylon
? 101 uses for DIY and model making such as prototype mechanical parts or armatures and frames for models
? Becomes easily mouldable at just 62?C.

Polymorph is one of a new generation of commercial polymers set to have a major impact on model making and prototyping. This polymer has all the characteristics of a tough engineering material yet it fuses and becomes easily mouldable at just 62?C. It can be heated with hot water or a hair dryer and moulded by hand to create prototypes and solve manufacturing problems currently outside the capacity of other materials.
Uses for Polymorph include:
Prototype mechanical parts
Armatures/frames for models
Specialised components - e.g. motor mountings
Moulding for complete products - e.g. torches
Joining components together
Mouldings for handles & orthopaedic aids
Vacuum forming moulds

it is expensive though

here are some of the faq about the product:-

Quote
Polymorph


Q) what tempreture at which it becomes a liquid? for casting or other pouring aplications - Peter Fawdon
A) it becomes mouldable at 62 deg cent - this is the only information we have

Q) Can moulds created from polmorph be used for forming products, such as candles or soap (hot liquids) - Lisa
A) Yes this can be used for hot candle and soap moulding.

Q) Is polymorph reusable? - Kevin Gough
A) Yes. You just have to reheat it in hot water so you can mould it again.

Q) Do you have a COSHH datasheet for this? - Muad''Dib
A) Yes, available on request at the point of purchase

Q) When malleable, what is its consistency like? e.g. milk, clay, gelatine etc. - Josh
A) Like clay I would say.

Q) After it has hardened, can you drill / file / saw it ? - Chris
A) Yes you can.

Q) Is it opaque or translucent? - Stuart McGraw
A) It is opaque.

Q) How long does it take to harden? - Peter
A) Not long, once it has started cooling it will start to hold it's shape fairly rapidly.

Q) Is this suitable for making parts of robotic arms etc... where it will be under a bit of stress? Thanks. - David
A) it is suitaqble for this purpose as it sets very hard but not brittle

Q) Hi, is this material conductive or insulative. IE: Is it suitable for covering PCBs to prevent shorts? Thanks, James - James
A) polymorph is an insulator

Q) Can it be made to harden permanantley ? - Simon
A) Only if not used with anything involving high temperatures (over 60 degrees Centigrade).

Q) Is polymorph safe to use on food related products? - luke
A) it is non toxic so can be used as part of food preperation but must not be consumed.

Q) Can you spraypaint Polymorph once it is solid? -
A) yes with acrylic paint

Q) Hi, can you dye this product while it is heated and soft? i.e. can you put in a colour so the material is uniform in colour right through? Thanks - Julian
A) yes - this will accept acrylic based colours

 


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