Plastic similar to a perf board

[Todd Welsh]

I am small box that is rather flimsy.  I want to reenforce it with plastic or some other material.  So, there will be a strong functional box glued inside of a pretty but non-functional box.  The max dimension would be 3 inches or so.  Perf board material would be a pretty good thicknes and strength but I don't have enough, it is expensive and it seems a shame to use it for a non-wiring pupose.  Can anyone think of something off hand from home depot / wally mart / etc?  Some common thing made of a thin (1/16 inch) rigid plastic that I can cut up? 

 

Todd

[Jeff Johnson]

A small piece of polycarb perhaps.  I may have some about that size around here somewhere.  The stuff is very tough.  Pliant, but hard to puncture.  You can also get sheets at Home Depot, but I don't know how inexpensive it may be.

[Pat McCarthy]

If you are handy with 3d, you could loft a box shaped to your requirements, then 3d print it out…

 

Patrick McCarthy

 

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[Aaron VerDow]

Perf boards before they become perf boards:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#grade-g-10-garolite-sheets/=j9wpkz

It's kind of expensive but it's very very strong, I used to use it to make replacement parts for RC trucks.  I use it as a cheaper alternative to carbon fiber sheets.

The only problem is it's very difficult to machine... the standard perfboard beige stuff might cut on the laser cutter but I doubt the glossy black version will.  CNC machining also takes a bit of patience and an abundance of router bits.

[Brian Wagner]

What about good ole 1/8" plywood?  I love baltic birch plywood and it is very strong and laserable.  You may even be able to find a scrap that would fit your needs under the laser table.

b

[Raj]

Radio Shack sells good project boxes in a variety of sizes.  They're good quality ABS, come with both a plastic top and metal face plate, and are cheap.  I picked up the one below, which is 3x2x1, for under $3.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062279

Or you can always cut out a box on the laser cutter.  They sell 8x10" sheets of .080" acrylic for about $1 at Lowe's.

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From: Todd Welsh <blackbeltbeekeeper@gmail.com>
To: lvl1@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 10:57 AM
Subject: {LVL1} Plastic similar to a perf board

[Brian Wagner]

As for cutting boxes on the laser there is an Inkscape extension on the computer that makes fingerboxes like this...

 

Here is some info  http://www.keppel.demon.co.uk/111000/111000.html 

Brian