Landracing Forum

Tech Information => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: maguromic on April 17, 2012, 11:51:10 PM

Title: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: maguromic on April 17, 2012, 11:51:10 PM

Is there a  good way to add louvers in Plexiglas?  Tony

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: Peter Jack 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

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: Tman 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.

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: maguromic on April 18, 2012, 10:01:56 AM

Thanks guys, I wanted to say Lexan.  Tony

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: Bob Drury 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

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: Captthundarr 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.

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: 38flattie on April 18, 2012, 10:36:36 PM

I gotta see what you're up to now.....

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: maguromic on April 19, 2012, 12:02:28 AM

Quote from: 38flattie on April 18, 2012, 10:36:36 PM

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

(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj236/maguromic/porche906.jpg)

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: Tman on April 19, 2012, 01:15:49 AM

You can do it, get creative!

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: Glen on April 19, 2012, 10:46:38 AM

Why not just mill a few slots, less chance of cracking and has the same effect.

Title: Re: Louvers in Plexiglass
Post by: wheelrdealer 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