I noticed the machine I want to "copy" uses a UHMW table. Well the table size i want is around 2'x 4'..


Well from just looking at prices this runs around $4,500 US dollars.


Why so much?

UHMW is expensive but this must be a thick piece if 8 square feet is that price; $562.50 a square foot does seem a bit steep.

Well this place is crap WAAAY overpriced


I can get it locally for around less than $200

UHMW is expensive but this must be a thick piece if 8 square feet is that price; $562.50 a square foot does seem a bit steep.

No, I called locally and they want $137 for a piece

Why do you want a UHMW table? If you're trying to scale up a small machine and use the same materials, it may not work very well at the larger size.

Why do you want a UHMW table? If you're trying to scale up a small machine and use the same materials, it may not work very well at the larger size.

because I want to use it for ICE machining and I heard UHMW works well with sticking to the ICE with a squirt bottle...

The cure time and rarity of large pieces in manufacturing seems to me to be the reason for the price jump. PVC pipe is cheap and pentiful, 6 inch rod isn't :)

Have you thought of facing your exisiting table with a thin sheet of UHMV? Say a .125 of an inch or so?

You'd get the non stick benefits without much compromise in work envelope (depending on how you fasten it).


Mike Horne

The cure time and rarity of large pieces in manufacturing seems to me to be the reason for the price jump. PVC pipe is cheap and pentiful, 6 inch rod isn't :)

Have you thought of facing your exisiting table with a thin sheet of UHMV? Say a .125 of an inch or so?

You'd get the non stick benefits without much compromise in work envelope (depending on how you fasten it).


Mike Horne


That is another problem is how to fasten the table to the metal base. I am thinking about using some sort of adhesive. I am not sure. For support though I am thinking about putting sheet metal underneath the plastic table. Then under the sheet metal maybe square tubing in an X-brace format.

why go to the expense and bother of UHMV?

Surely a good paint job would do as well if you are going to use sheet metal.....

Andy

why go to the expense and bother of UHMV?

Surely a good paint job would do as well if you are going to use sheet metal.....

Andy

I am going to use xylan 1424 on the steel.

I am going to use xylan 1424 on the steel.

I have heard that stone blood is an excellent alternative to xylan 1424 :)

That is another problem is how to fasten the table to the metal base. I am thinking about using some sort of adhesive.....

If you are planning on using an adhesive with UHMW you might have difficulty finding one that sticks. It is practically impossible to glue UHMW; you can do it, but it is necessary to etch the surface with something like hydrofluoric acid which is the nastiest stuff you can ever encounter.


And a few posts up you had this ;

because I want to use it for ICE machining and I heard UHMW works well with sticking to the ICE with a squirt bottle...

Do you mean you heard that ice sticks well to UHMW? That contradicts my experience, and makes you wonder why the bottom of snow skis are sometimes UHMW, so ice will not stick.

If you are planning on using an adhesive with UHMW you might have difficulty finding one that sticks. It is practically impossible to glue UHMW; you can do it, but it is necessary to etch the surface with something like hydrofluoric acid which is the nastiest stuff you can ever encounter.


And a few posts up you had this ;

because I want to use it for ICE machining and I heard UHMW works well with sticking to the ICE with a squirt bottle...

Do you mean you heard that ice sticks well to UHMW? That contradicts my experience, and makes you wonder why the bottom of snow skis are sometimes UHMW, so ice will not stick.


This is what I was heard. Although, you probably know more about this material since you probably use it in the snow often. What material would you recommend?

Also, can you freeze the ice and stick it to the plastic?

You may be able to freeze some sort of base into the block and hold it down that way, ice won't stick to the plastic, they cover the front of snow plows with VHMW to keep snow and ice from sticking.

What does it look like they are using here for a table?

YouTube - CNC Machine - Cutting ICE

It looks like it is just melted to the table. No work holding or anything..

That is a neat Video. I could not really see what the table was but near the end it was possible to see through the ice, at the part where it was engraving, there seemed to be lines or maybe grooves on the table. That block is so big and the cutter so small it would stay in place with its own weight and would not slide if it was frozen into grooves on the table.

Where did that Vvideo come from? Finland or Sweden where they build these Ice Hotels every winter? Or China, I think there is a town in China doing it as well.

That is a neat Video. I could not really see what the table was but near the end it was possible to see through the ice, at the part where it was engraving, there seemed to be lines or maybe grooves on the table. That block is so big and the cutter so small it would stay in place with its own weight and would not slide if it was frozen into grooves on the table.

Where did that Vvideo come from? Finland or Sweden where they build these Ice Hotels every winter? Or China, I think there is a town in China doing it as well.

Just whoever wants to make it..


I researched the UHMW and everybody uses it as a non stick material. I am thinking about getting me a sample piece and doing some experiments to see if this is the right material for my table top.

I don't want to have to resort to T slotting the table.


Also, I am not really worried about the large pieces just worried about after they get fully machined and they get smaller in size.

Well after a small experiment. I put two ice cubes on a piece of UHMW plastic. Squirt it with a water bottle and then put it in the freezer. It froze to the piece of plastic but this was under extreme tempatures. Also, it didn't hold that much clamping force.


I don't really think this would make a good table material.


Any comments?