See-Through Plastics

Profiles & Tubing
Petro Extrusion Tech., Inc. (PET) offers both custom and stock clear extruded tubing and pro¬files, in a variety of thermoplastic materials.

With over 50 years’ experience in the extrusion business, Petro Extrusion Tech offers clear tubing in acrylic, polycarbonate, and other clear materials, in a range of sizes from 1/8” up to 8” OD.

PET offers a line of stock PC tubing, in various wall thicknesses and sizes, including several heavy wall tube sizes.

PET also offers stock items such as their polycarbonate angles and channels, all in clear, available from stock in various stock lengths. PET has a stock line of acrylic profile shapes for the P.O.P. industry, including Z-Bar shapes and U-Channel profiles, all in clear, and available from stock.

For more information, contact Mike Patterson, Petro Extrusion Technologies, Inc., P.O. Box 99, Garwood, NJ 07027, 800-229-3338/908-789-3338, Fax: 908-789-0434, E-mail: sales@petroextrusions.com, Web: www.petroextrusions.com.

Clear Polyester
TECADUR MT TR natural, a clear copolyester plastic (PCT-G) exhibits many new advantages for machined parts from stock shapes for medical and biopharma applications.

This clear copolyester exhibits higher impact priorities than polycarbonate and very high gamma stability, with no color change post exposure. A preliminary screening is performed on specific lots of the material in order to test compatibility with solvents specified in the BioPhorum Operations Group (BPOG) guideline for standardized extractable testing for single use systems in biomanufacturing. It can fit in applications requiring low extractables like diagnostic and chemical analysis equipment. TECADUR MT TR can also fit where chemical resistance and clarity are necessary, and where biocompatible exposure to human tissue, less than 24 hours, is crucial.

TECADUR MT TR fits between TECANAT (polycarbonate) shapes and TECAPEI (Ultem®) on certain key properties, and has excellent chemical resistance. It is better in applications that do not require steam-sterilization, and is therefore more suited for single use applications typical in bio-pharma processing. While it does not have quite the temperature capability of PEI, TECADUR MT TR will nevertheless often be able to replace PC and PEI shapes in many cases.

For more information, contact Mike Ferreira, Ensinger, 365 Meadowlands Blvd., Washington, PA 15301, 800-243-3221/856-227-0500, Fax: 724-746-9209, E-mail: mferreira@ensingerusa.com, Web: www.ensingerplastics.com.

Optical Grade Polycarbonate Shapes
Trident Plastics offers heavy-gauge Polycarbonate plate from .250” up to 5.00” thick in a wide range of formulations. Trizod® OP is an optically clear, press-polish finish Polycarbonate specially engineered for superior optical performance. The standard grade of Trizod OP is uv-stabilized and UL94 V0 recognized, Trizod OP-FG (food grade) Complies with FDA food additive regulation 21 CFR 177.1580.

Trizod OP-ESD has an Electrostatic-dissipative surface coating with surface resistivity of 106 - 108 ohms per square. Trizod OP UltraPure White is a uv-stabilized Bright White Opaque Polycarbonate with a press-polish finish and is available in sizes from .250” through 1.00” thick. In addition to press-polished finish optical grade sheets, Trident also offers Machine Grade (un-polished) polycarbonate shapes in Clear, White, Black and Glass-reinforced.

For more information, contact Dean Cadic, Trident Plastics Inc., 1029 Pulinski Rd., Ivyland, PA 18974, 215-672-5225, E-mail: sales@tridentplastics.com, Web: www. tridentplastics.com.

Crystal Clear Edges
A challenge in the machining of PMMA, acrylic, Plexiglas® or Makrolon® is that these plastics become too hot during processing and may even melt. The efficient machining of this materials is complex. Special tools such as Hufschmied's Plexiglas milling cutter 110FPRV "Raven-V" are needed here.

The innovative cutting-edge geometry allows the 110FPRV milling tool to process these sensitive transparent materials to be machined burr-free and with virtually crystal-clear cutting edges despite high feed rates. With the roughing and finishing tool, machining is possible in one step without tool change and without re-polishing. Additionally, superior tool life increases efficiency and profitability.

Other tools in the series are the radius cutter 110FPER for 3D machining and the V slot cutter 110V, the tool for lettering, chamfering or profile cuts. You can find more information about these tools in their product flyer.

For more information, contact Erin Marciniak, Hufschmied USA, 42 Ozick Dr., Unit 6, Durham, CT 06422, 239-220-6602, E-mail: sales@hufschmiedusa.com, Web: www.hufschmied-tools.com/en.

Panel-Forming Channels
With Popco’s panel-forming channels, assembling rigid materials at right angles, variable angles or into T-shaped or X-shaped constructions is made easy. Plus, the panel-forming channels are heavy-duty and add to the structural integrity of displays.

Popco’s panel-forming channels will join Coroplast®, styrene, foam board or acrylic together to assemble displays, dump bins and even Covid barriers. For added stability, display panels can then be held upright with Popco’s heavy-duty sign bases.

Right-angle corner connectors are well suited to create product dump bins. “T” or “X” shaped channels open up all sorts of attractive possibilities for P.O.P. displays. There is even a flexible connector that allows for unusually-shaped displays.

To finish off displays built with Popco panel-formers, there is a U-shaped end cap. These heavy-duty channels are made from clear PVC and they include flexible “fins” inside the channels that grip stock tightly. The channels are as tough as they are attractive and can be reused many times making them a great bargain.

For more information, contact Peter Breti, Popco, Inc., 5405 Opportunity Court, Minnetonka, MN 55343, 800-557-6726/952-352-0887, Fax: 952-352-9474, E-mail: sales@popco-usa.com, Web: www.popco-usa.com.

Clear Film
CS Hyde Company is a supplier and converter of high-performance polymer films and film tapes. They stock a variety of optically clear plastics custom to specific industry applications.

They stock commonly used films including optically clear polyester, clear polycarbonate, and specialty films like FEP, PFA, and ETFE. As a converter, they utilize on site converting capabilities to convert plastic film products into custom roll widths, lengths, or sheet dimensions specific to your application. They are also a 3M® converter which allows them to produce specialty film tapes backed with clear adhesives for optical clarity, transparent bonding, or high bond adhesives to bond difficult substrates like oily metals or low surface energy plastics.

CS Hyde can custom laminate adhesive to substrates such as polyester, polycarbonate, PEEK, PTFE made with Teflon® Fluoropolymers, and more. Aside from lamination, they also die cut parts and or sheets with little to no minimums. Types of applications that utilize clear plastics and film tapes include display panel bonding, graphic overlays, barrier protection, and transparent wire & cable wrapping.

For more information, contact Sales, CS Hyde Company, 39655 N. IL Rt. 83, Lake Villa IL 60046, 800-461-4161, Email: sales@cshyde.com, Web: www.cshyde.com.

Unique See-Through Plastics
Westlake Plastics offers numerous see-through materials with unique characteristics.

Zelux® PC (polycarbonate) is a clear, tough thermoplastic used in glazing, barriers, and equipment covers where transparency and impact resistance are important. It is available in rod and sheet: 0.5” – 2.5”, Custom up to 6”.

Amidelux® PA (polyamide) is a strong, stiff, light weight clear nylon that exhibits exceptional chemical resistance and good UV resistance. The material would be a good choice for transparent applications where chemical resistance to solvents is important. It is offered in film and sheet up to .187”.

Radel® PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone) offers transparency, excellent thermal stability, outstanding toughness, resistance to long-term steam exposure, HDT (415°F), combustion resistance, and has FDA and NSF approvals. It is available in rod, sheet, and film.

Thermalux® PSO (polysulfone) offers transparency (amber colored), excellent thermal stability, high toughness and strength, good environmental stress cracking resistance, HDT (345°F), combustion resistance, FDA and NSF approvals, and low creep. It is available in rod, sheet, and film.

And Tempalux® PEI (polyetherimide) offers transparency (amber colored), heat resistance HDT (374°F), inherent flame retardancy, excellent dimensional stability, exceptional strength and stiffness, good chemical resistance, electrical insulation, transparency to visible light, infrared light, and microwave radiation frequencies, and FDA approvals. It is available in rod, sheet, and film.

These materials play indispensable roles across various sectors due to their transparency, durability, and versatility. As technology advances and demands evolve, these materials continue to serve as staples for innovation, enabling the development of safer, more efficient, and vi¬sually appealing components.

For more information, contact Jody Walker, Westlake Plastics, 490 W. Lenni Rd., Lenni, PA 19052, 800-999-1700, E-mail: orders@westlakeplastics.com, Web: www. westlakeplastics.com.

Plastic Polishes
Three plastic polishes from NOVUS Inc., the St. Paul-based plastics care specialists, are helping millions win the war against fading, scratching, and dulling of plastics that all too often cause the best products to grow old before their time.

NOVUS Plastic Polishes, which have been used and recommended by manufacturers for 50 years, have an enviable record of rejuvenating the plastic surfaces in many industrial settings, as well as, in the home.

NOVUS Polish No. 1 is a cleaner, shiner, and protector for all plastics. In one easy application, this highly concentrated formula polishes quickly to an even finish. It leaves a glaze that resists finger marking and dust buildup. It is antistatic and antifogging.

NOVUS Polish No. 2 removes fine scratches and haziness from most plastics. It is not just a surface cover-up, but a polishing compound that restores and protects damaged plastics.

NOVUS Polish No. 3 was formulated to remove heavy scratches. After using No. 3 follow up with No. 2 to remove any fine scratches.

Manufacturers of everything from aircraft to appliances use NOVUS Plastic Polishes to cut down on scrap in fabrication. These fabricators have discovered regular use of NOVUS Plastic Polishes keep replacement costs down while maintaining the aesthetic beauty of their products.

For more information, contact Sales, NOVUS Inc. 2 LLC., St. Paul, MN 55114, 800-548-6872, E-mail: sales@novuspolish.com, Web: www.novuspolish.com.

CNC Edge Polishing
The KUPER ABP 310 CNC is a large format, high volume, CNC controlled milling and polishing solution with full CNC control over the length, depth, and angle (bevel) processing abilities of the machine. The core of the machine is made of UHPC (technical concrete), which gives the machine extreme rigidity and absorbs vibrations up to 95%.

The machine is suitable for transparent, technical, or decorative plastic materials (e.g. PMMA, PC, PETG) or for the processing of mixed materials (PMMA with paper or aluminum).

The polisher is capable of multiple part processing. Parts can be stacked up to 120mm max thickness. There is an innovative integrated vacuum zone for increased workpiece control and the unit has a 3100mm max part length (single pass). It can perform both perpendicular and beveled operations 0 to +63 degrees with adjustable milling and feed speeds.

There is a pre-configured graphical control including material library, milling values, tool selection, and calculations for beveling. It offers 8 workpiece clamps (up to 20 are available) and it operates the flexible Euracryl ES quick change diamond tooling system. These can be used to produce high-gloss, satanized, or ready-to-glue surfaces on PMMA, PC, PETG, SAN and many more materials.

For more information, contact Sales, Stiles Machinery, Inc., 3965 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, 616-698-7500, E-mail: info@stilesmachinery.com, Web: www.stilesmachinery.com.

Heating Table
Fabrication Tools and Materials, Inc. (FTM) is “The Fabricators Source®” for the 56000 series Thermoplastic Heating Table for straight line bending. These new systems are made in the USA and available in three sizes, 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2” for materials from .040”-.500” thick. The tables offer some great new features like the Advanced Touch Quad Control with a Max Heat button and improved timer controls, a new rail system, and leg kit.

Their patented rail system uses a unique alignment plate that fits with the rails and allows the four Heating Trays and Material Support/Stop to move easily, lock securely, and aids in squaring. The system’s foot print is virtually unchanged from their original heating table, but offers a larger working area created by the new intergraded split fence design. The integrated fence allows more flexibility in an ergonomic design. The 14-gauge steel legs are ridged and strong, with enough weight to keep the system in place, yet light enough for the heating table to be easily moved when needed.

FTM also offers single Free-Standing Heating Trays available in lengths from 2-foot up to 10-foot in ˝”. Their 4-foot models are available in a verity of heated widths from Ľ” up to 2”, so whether you’re working with 1mm thin material or 1” thick material they have your heating needs covered.

From more information, contact Robert Ashcraft, Fabrication Tools and Materials, Inc., 327 Industrial Dr. Unit 1, Placerville, CA 95667, 530-626-1986, E-mail: info@123ftm.com. Web: www.123ftm.com.

Threaded Press-in Inserts
E-Z Lok, a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood offers E-Z Press™ inserts.

Press-in Inserts are designed for post-molding installation in either thermoset plastics or thermoplastics. A slotted design with diamond-knurled OD allows for “cold” installation with optimum torque/pull-out resistance. When the E-Z Press insert is installed, it compresses slightly along the slot. As the fastener is threaded into place, the insert expands and the diamond knurl is pressed into the wall of the hole, securing the insert in place.

Cold installation of threaded inserts reduces the costs of moldings and eliminates the need to “chase” threads after molding. Furthermore, they also help cut reject waste caused by misaligned and faulty inserts and assist in proper installation without a precise hole depth.

E-Z Press inserts are available in three styles: flush, flanged, and reverse slot. All three types press into place for fast, easy installation. Anything from a rubber mallet to an arbor press can be used for installation.

CAD files on this product can be downloaded in over 100 file formats from the E-Z Lok website at https:// www.ezlok.com/cad-downloads.

For more information, contact Kyle Lindsly-Roach, E-Z Lok, 240 E. Rosecrans Ave., Gardena, CA 90248, 310-323-5613 x221, E-mail: klindsly@ezlok.com, Web: www.ezlok.com.

Rods, Tubes & Profiles
Futurplast Extrusions is a distributor committed leading manufacturer of fine extruded acrylic rods, tubes, and profiles, as well as polycarbonate tubes. Stock products include tubes up to 14" in diameter, round rods up to 3" in diameter, square rods, square tubes, and one the largest selections of colored acrylic products in North America. They also feature a stock line of frosted “P95” acrylic tubes and custom products are available on request.

For more information, contact Joseph Sorella or Lisa Houle, Futurplast Extrusions, 3435 Pitfield Blvd, Saint Laurent, QC, H4S-1H7 Canada, 888-812-9075/514-328-9182, Fax: 866-388-2955, E-mail: info@futurplast.ca, Web: www.futurplast.ca.

Complete Clear Portfolio
Plaskolite, LLC. is a global leader in manufacturing of thermoplastic sheet products. Plaskolite’s customized products are used in a wide variety of applications including windows, doors, lighting, signs, point-of-purchase displays, and bath products. Plaskolite serves a diverse customer base including distributors, OEMs and retailers.

Plaskolite is a leading source for both polycarbonate and acrylic manufacturing and is the only manufacturer capable of offering a complete clear sheet product portfolio, including acrylic, polycarbonate, PETG and ABS.

For more information, contact Greg Hallam, Plaskolite, LLC, 400 W Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 400, Columbus, OH 43215, 800-848-9124/662-893-5409, E-mail: gregory.hallam@plaskolite.com, Web: www.plaskolite.com.