03-17-2010, 09:10 AM
(03-17-2010, 06:43 AM)modelnutz Wrote: Trekker...what you are describing is a ticking time bomb.Hello,Holton! I'm glad to see you're part of our community. It's been a while since I've talked to you last. I had to nuke my projects that I was going to have you make for me. It's just not something that can be cast in resin. Either way, while we're on the subject, does anyone know of a supplier that sells cold cast aluminum that looks like aluminum, and not just a dark gray?
First, I have an industrial pressure pot ( 7.5 gallon chamber ) and the lid for that is a piece of 1 inch thick acrylic.
No holes.
Even at that thickness, I get a deflection of nearly 1/8 inch in the center of the lid during use.
By drilling a hole in the center of your acrylic lid, you have introduces a stress point in the plastic. I may not have failed yet...but, trust me...when it does...you do NOT want to be anywhere near that thing.
Let me elaborate... I once purchased at an auction, a large bell jar type of vacume chamber.
Worked great...for a while...then, the sub-standard base that the previous owner made decided to give out while under 29 inches of vacume ( a LOT of vacume)....when the base cracked..it caused the bell jar to shatter ( implode actually...think...submarine diving too deep)
Now, keep in mind...this bell jar was 1/2 inch thick TEMPERED glass....damn near indestructable.....
Well, when it went off, the jar sucked inward and then rebound outward with enough force to sink a big piece of that heavy glass about 1/2 inch into the ceiling over my head. Took a pair of pliers to dislodge it.
Please....always use only the proper equipment to do this casting stuff...and never forget that we're working with BOMBS !