Author Topic: Louvers in Plexiglass  (Read 9766 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline maguromic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1736
    • http://www.barringtontea.com
Louvers in Plexiglass
« on: April 17, 2012, 11:51:10 PM »
Is there a  good way to add louvers in Plexiglas?  Tony
“If you haven’t seen the future, you are not going fast enough”

Offline Peter Jack

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3776
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2012, 06:11:15 AM »
I would think Plexi would crack or shatter Tony, but I'll bet Lexan would take louvers just fine before the protective cover was removed.

Pete

Offline Tman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3672
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2012, 09:53:45 AM »
I have seen Lexan louvered (80s license plate covers) Pretty sure a little heat and a reg louver press would do it.

Offline maguromic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1736
    • http://www.barringtontea.com
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2012, 10:01:56 AM »
Thanks guys, I wanted to say Lexan.  Tony
“If you haven’t seen the future, you are not going fast enough”

Offline Bob Drury

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2599
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2012, 05:33:33 PM »
  I would think that you would need to have specialy clearanced dies based on the thickness of the material. 
  Every louver press that I have witnessed in use is set up for 18 to 20 gauge steel or .050 alluminum.
  I don't think the actual cut side would be a problem, but the back side (curved) part of the louver might be.
  Most license plate covers are very thin material.
  In any case, I would try it out on a scrap first.
  Being hydraulic presses, you might be able to drop the pressure way down but keep in mind that a louver press does not work like a shear, cutting from one end to the other, but strikes the female die evenly all at once.                JMO, Bob
Bob Drury

Offline Captthundarr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1475
  • In line
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2012, 10:02:02 PM »
Tony, Having worked in the molding and thermoforming industries the stuff the guys said above is on it. Clearance and temp. of material and forms/molds is the key to success. Have fun.
Live,Laugh, Love /  Jack Scratch Racing /ECTA   
Amy Hartman-Driver, Frank Hartman-everthing else.
C/GALT 137.65 Ohio Mile check that 144.12 2013, AA/GALT 159.34 Ohio Mile 2014. B/GALT 180.577 RECORD 6/15

Offline 38flattie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2169
    • http://www.flatcadracing.org/
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2012, 10:36:36 PM »
I gotta see what you're up to now.....
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. However, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead. -- RFC 1925

You can't make a race horse out of a pig. But if you work hard enough at it you can make a mighty fast pig. - Bob Akin

http://www.flatcadracing.org/
http://youtu.be/89rVb497_4c

Offline maguromic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1736
    • http://www.barringtontea.com
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2012, 12:02:28 AM »
I gotta see what you're up to now.....

So suspicious  :evil:  I have two 3" vents for the driver, and I want to vent that air back out.  I thought of the Porsche 906 and how they vented from the back glass. I will play around with some scrap pieces to see if I can do this with out ruining it.  Otherwise I will just add some low profile NACA ducts in reverse. Tony

“If you haven’t seen the future, you are not going fast enough”

Offline Tman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3672
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2012, 01:15:49 AM »
You can do it, get creative!

Offline Glen

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7024
  • SCTA/BNI timer 1983 to 2004, Retired,. Crew on Tur
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2012, 10:46:38 AM »
Why not just mill a few slots, less chance of cracking and has the same effect.
Glen
Crew on Turbinator II

South West, Utah

Offline wheelrdealer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1255
  • D/CBGALT
    • WHEELRDEALER RACING
Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2012, 11:15:47 AM »
Tony:

Let us know how it works out. I am very interested. My car had a piece of tuping going from behind the front valence through the firewall. Worked ok just got in the way under the hood. I want to run NACA intake(s) and vent out the back glass. I have been looking for real small NACA's 1 to 1 1/2". The only ones I have found are 3" and 2 1/2" in clear. Louvers out the back Lexan would work nice.

Thanks,

Bill
ECTA    Maxton D/CGALT  Record Holder 167.522
ECTA    Maxton D/CBGALT Record Holder 166.715

WWW.WHEELRDEALER2100.COM