Lexan?

[wescotte]

What exactly is it? Is it simply a fancy name for plexiglass? Just wondering the advantages of using it over a cheaper substance?

Eric

[Thenasty]

correct me if I'm wrong but I think plexi will break in peices if punch hard enought but lexan won't.

[Jakobud]

Lexan and Plexiglass are DIFFERENT things.  They look similar but Lexan is very strong compared to plexi.  For your cabinet, don't by plexiglass.  For example, i learned the hardway that if you try to drill any holes in a thin sheet of plexi, the thing will start to crack really bad.  But lexan does not have this problem.  But lexan.  Not much more expensive than plexi and worth it.

Jakobud

[hyiu]

yeah... lexan is more expensive, but much easier to manage....

if you're getting a new piece to cover the monitor... then I guess buying plexi or lexan does't really make a different...
(since there's no cutting at all other than cut it to size...) and I'd expect noone playing your cab will bang on it...\

but if you're getting something to cover the control panel... definitely get lexan... cos it can be cut and drilled just like wood using the wood drilling bits and saw bits.... much easier to manage....

[SNAAAKE]

drilling plexi is not that big a deal but if you have money then go lexan..its about 100% times stronger then pleaxi.However..i love the look of plexi glass compared to lexan..plexi is much shinier then lexan(I used both plexi&lexan)and is cheap solution for my huge panels.

[eightbit]

I prefer glass for the monitor and marquee. I don't like the look of plexi for these.

[liche]

Well, Plexiglass (TM) is the commercial name for Acrylic.  As you know Acrylic is probably the most difficult plastics to machine due to its brittleness and low melting temperature.  However, acrylic has an extremely high transmissibility constant which means is extremely clear and transparent, hence its use for windows, etc...

Lexan, on the otherhand is the commercial name for Polycarbonate.  Its much easier to machine than acrylic, but is a bit more expensive.  It also has a much higher melting temperature meaning it will be more difficult to thermoform than Plexiglass (acrylic).

[wescotte]

Weird.. So lexan is easier to make yet cost more? Well.. I was trying to figure out what to use over the CP, Marquee and monitor. I was assuming I'd use Plexi for the marquee since it's cheaper. Glass for the monitor would be ideal but expensive. Lexan seems the way to go for my CP.. Is lexan nearly as transparent as plexi? I mean if I decided to create some sorta artwork for my CP? Or maybe just some texture or something.. Just a thought..

Thanks for the info
Eric
(heheh look at megaman get jiggy with it!)

[SNAAAKE]

its as good...very minor difference...here is a pic of plexi in action...and lexan in action....you figure which look better..first pic is plexi and second is lexan.





You can clearly see that lexan is not AS shiny but works better then anything.

[Brax]

Saying Lexan is stonger is kind of misleading...

Its actually a softer material. Its less brittle thats why it is easier to work with and is more resistant to impact and cracking during drilling, but it's also slightly more prone to scratches than Plexiglass.

My preferance is easlily Lexan though. It's really nice to work with and certainly durable enough for our applications.

[m3talslug]

Q: What is the difference between Lexan/Acrylic/Plexiglass etc.

A:
Lexan is a trademark of GE plastics.
Plexiglas is a trademark of Rohm & Haas Co.
Lucite is a trademark of E.I.DuPont DeNemours & Co.
Acrylite is a trademark of American Cynamid Co.
Perspex is a trademark of ICI Group.

Lexan is polycarbonate.
Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, Perspex and acrylic are polyacrylate.

Polycarbonate is harder than polyacrylate, and if someone wants to go dig up the physical properties listings, there's probably a wealth of other differences. I don't think it matters much in a case modding context.

Lexan is much more shatter resistant than Acrylic. Acrylic is more scratch resistant than Lexan.

Acrylic is available in different grades:
Extruded material is manufactured by pushing pellets through a highly polished die. There can be slight imperfections in the surface. Extruded material is usually less expensive and more difficult to work with.

Acrylic can also be cast There are different casting methods, with the more expensive material being more uniform in thickness. Cell cast is the highest grade, and continuous cast is in the middle.

courtesy of http://linear1.org/gm/archives/00000136.php

[Brax]

It doesn't jive in my head thats polycarbonate is more shatter resistant and yet 'harder'. I would think the two properties are incompatible. I do agree its more shatter resistant.

Just for fun I'm going to do a Rockwell test on the two materials.. I have to get a hold of some Lexan first. (maybe in a few weeks) I'll post the results just for curiousity sake.
 

I love seeing people use all these fancy resources at their disposal for arcade machines! hehe