Rowmark from UK supplier?

[bobg]

HI

It seems I need some Romark white laserable plastic for a railway modelling application. Does anyone know where I can buy it in the UK in reasonable (ie. hobbiest - small) quantities?

It's laserable, available in thin sheets (.75mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm) and can be 'melted' together with 'Plastic Weld' or 'Mek Pac' types solvents.

Bob

[Pedro_Hernandez]

I only know of these people,,
http://www.identify.co.uk/Products/shee ... index.html
They used to be the Uk Agents for Epilog but are now Trotec .

Peter

[StarLoc Adhesives]

HPC do the engraving laminate thats similar

http://hpclaser.co.uk/index.php?main_pa ... ucts_id=30

If it doesnt need to be engravable to a different colour than the standard used in the model trade for kit production is HIPS , high impact polystyrene, i dont know if HPC sell it, we used to distribute it a few years ago to go with our Poly-Weld plastic weld but not anymore , most model shops have it in small sheets, bigger sheets from most plastics distributors

[Pedro_Hernandez]

http://www.hindleys.com/

For HIPS, they go from 0.5mm to 2mm, it's available in small sheets but I'm guessing you will need an account with them.

I only have a sheet of White/Black Rowmark otherwise I might of been able to help you out.

Also found this on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/High-Impact-Polys ... 5822221549

Regards

Peter

[Spooky]

Hindleys are good Pete, accounts are easy and anybody can get them.They also do direct web based sales to the public via usual card payment etc.

Courtney Crapper is the contact there you need to speak to for supplies.

best wishes

Dave

[Mike]

I use pantograph services for most of my thin plastic supply, make sure you tell them its for laser machine engraving. they sell the gravograph material

[PhillyDee]

Since we are here, then which thin plastics suitable for laser cutting are available? I need a 1.5mm, and a flexible 0.5mm or smaller. Preferably 0.2 or so.

[Spooky]

Plastics suitable for laser cutting:

These include Acrylic, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Nylon, LDPE / HDPE, HIPS and Mylar,

Anything you consider using should be burn tested as follows:

Get a tiny gas torch, one of those little 5 quid propane jobs that fill from a lighter gas can,

Take a sharp scalpel or craft knife and skim a tiny sliver of your material,

Impale the sliver onto the point of the pin,

Burn with your gas torch and watch the flame colour,

ANY sign of a green flame or green smoke and that plastic CANNOT be lasered safely (Yes I know there are exceptions and ways round it but any such suggestions posted here will be deleted,consideration for the safety of the many outweighs the need of the few):)

That's a quick dirty test for most plastics that should keep us out of harms way

hope that helps

best wishes

Dave

[Spooky]

Phil,

Mylar is great in the sizes your asking about

best wishes

Dave

[bobg]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Mylar is great (and I've cut some really delicate fencing out of it) but it won't 'melt' together with 'Platic Weld' or similar and contact adhesives are not always easy to apply to very tiny pieces - the Plastic Weld type glues are simply blobbed on the joint and are pulled in by capiliary action on the more usual styrene sheet we modellers are used to using (though it doesn't laser very well at all).

HIPS sounds interesting as does some thin plastic from HPC.

Bob