I am looking for an acrylic or equivalent CNC machine cutable material that will completely block light. I want to make it easier to manufacture a piece of my art and need something white that will block light completely. Right now I am using acrylic that is supposed to be nearly opaque but is nothing close to that. I was thinking maybe PVC sheets? Anyone have any ideas or experience?
Have you ever heard of something called GatorBoard? Might work for you. It’s used in the sign industry. You might be able to track some down from local sign shop, cutoffs, to play with/test.
It’s a laminate. Aluminum clad on both outside surfaces and foam core. I think you can also get it as plastic on the outsides and foam in the middle. Pretty sure its designed for CNC and you should be able to rip through it as a fast clip with the right bit. Very cool project!!! Nice Work.
Black Perspex is completely light proof. I ordered a bunch of pieces cut out of clear perspex with a laser cutter a while back and they screwed up the order and cut it out of black perspex…which was a huge fail on their behalf, they re did the job in clear, but i had a bunch of black pieces and they are completely light proof
@Leon_Yuhanov The problem with black is that you don’t get the light reflection. I still want the light to reflect out because the lighting is completely indirect. I could put black tape or even vinyl sticker on the back of the acrylic and it would work great… But I think it would change he vibrancy of the project.
@Eric_Daine_ednspace It sounds to me like the material is a bit “squishy” ? Is that right? At least what I have found for gatorboard appears to be wood veneer over expanded foam core. I am looking for something hard and durable… Thinking perhaps white anodized aluminum? Or something of that nature…
@Justin_Eastman Sorry you mentioned “completely block light”
@Justin_Eastman you can buy sheets of ABS in black or white. One side is textured the other smooth. Avaialble in multiple thickness from a few thou to 3/4 inch.
I think that “gatorboard” is also called Dibond. They use it indeed as a carrier for example photographs. PVC foam might be possible as well, although PVC is less environmental friendly and you can’t laser it.
You also have something like coated MDF. Sorry, the site is in Dutch, but just to show the material; https://snijlab.nl/nl/m/274/mdf-2-mm-274
I think it has a fine invisible texture, but that might be good for light reflection.
You can get white composite board of aluminium and fiberglass. http://www.aluminiumcomposite.co.uk/aluminium_composite_panels.htm
You should try Pvc foam: https://www.google.es/search?client=ms-android-huawei&ei=xmKhWO7tF4r0gAbhiryYBQ&q=4+mm+pvc+foam+sheet&oq=4+mm+pvc+foa+sheet&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.1.0.30i10k1.19752.25864.0.28101.6.5.1.0.0.0.136.561.1j4.5.0…0…1c.1j4.64.mobile-gws-serp…0.3.355…0i8i30k1.Pc3DuNSL410#imgrc=AqWqqDZ2k_MMiM:
Pvc is good with cnc
Oh yes @Kasper_Kamperman thanks for the name Dibond. I am almost certain I had a piece that was thin aluminum on both sides. It was very stiff and rigid. I think it would be fine if it were held down with some type of fastener. I tried to find a source several years ago and eventually got a link to a guy that had access to scraps from his business but never actually got my hands on it.
The name Dibond helps in the search, thanks again,
http://graphicdisplayusa.com/downloads/3AComposites-DIBOND-Data-Sheet-201307.pdf
DiBond or Alumaboard are trade names for Aluminum-Composite-Material/Matrix (ACM) panels. Matl is 0.006-0.012" aluminum skins laminated to solid or honeycomb PET; core thicknesses of 3-25mm are common. Routes/drills like a champ with o-flute cutters & high feeds. Saws well conventionally with TCG toothed blades.
Highly recommend you use a deburring tool on ACM edges.
Rigid Styrene is another material work looking for - all sign-shops will have it. 6mm will have good rigidity and opacity. You can polish the surface to desired sheen. Will offgas if you burn it (laser).
Gatorboard (as mentioned above) is 0.050-0.120" styrene skins laminated to PVC foam core. Think “craft foamboard” without the paper face.