Letter Rack Revision Notes

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Letter Rack Revision Notes
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Acrylic Sheet
Acrylic is a Thermoplastic and is available in a
wide range of colours.
The acrylic sheet is covered with a protective
film. This helps prevent the face of the acrylic
from getting scratched
Acrylic is generally sold in sheets 3mm,5mm 7mm
thick
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Engineers Vice
Each workstation can be fitted with an Engineers
Vice. This vice is used to hold metals and
plastics
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Scriber
A Scriber is used to mark out metal and plastic
Remember the scriber scratches the plastic so be
careful you dont leave unwanted marks on your
acrylic
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Files
Each work station is equipped 4 files 1 Rough cut
Rectangular File 1 Smooth cut Rectangular file 1
Half Round File 1 Round File
One edge of the file has no teeth. This is
called the Safe Edge
Remember never use a file without a handle
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Half Round File
The half round file is used to file metal and
plastics the curved back of the file is useful
for filing concave surfaces
Note Never use a file that has a missing or
broken handle
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Warding Files
Warding files can be used to file metal and
plastics This is a smaller file with a thinner
blade section than a bench file.
Note Never use a file that has a missing or
broken handle
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Needle Files
Needle files are used to file fine detail in
metal and plastic. Needle files are available in
a wide range of shapes
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File Card
When filing soft metals or plastics the file may
get clogged up. This is called Pinning. Use a
File Card to keep the file clean
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Junior Hacksaw
The Jnr Hacksaw is used to cut small pieces of
metal and plastic.
The teeth on a Hack Saw blade should point
forwards.
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Piercing Saw
The teeth on a Piercing saw blade should point
backwards. This will help prevent blade
breakages.
The Piercing Saw is used to cut tight curves in
thin metal and acrylic sheet
Remember always report a broken blade immediately
to your teacher
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Pillar Drill
The Pillar Drill can be used to drill holes
through acrylic. However acrylic is a brittle
plastic and great care must be taken when
drilling. The plastic must be held securely and
you must lower the drill at a slow even rate.
When using this (or any other machine) it is
important to read the safety notice on the wall
to make sure you understand how to use the
machine safely.
When using the Pillar Drill you must Wear
Goggles Tie any long hair back Tuck in any loose
clothing
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Plug Cutter
The plug cutter is normally used to cut wooden
plugs but it can be used to cut small Acrylic
circles
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Finishing Acrylic

• Use a file to remove the worst of the saw marks
  from the acrylic
• Draw File the edges of the acrylic
• Use Emery Cloth to remove any file marks.
• Clean the edges with Silicon Carbide Paper
• Polish the edges

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Silicon Carbide Paper
Silicon Carbide paper is used to help remove any
fine scratches from the edge of the acrylic
sheet. The abrasive paper should kept wet to help
stop the paper clogging up.
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Strip Heater
The Strip Heater is used to bend sheet acrylic.
The acrylic is held above the heating element and
turned over every 30 seconds. After 2 to 3 min
the plastic will bend easily. Remember the Strip
Heater can get very hot
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Tensol Cement
The adhesive used to stick Acrylic to Acrylic is
called Tensol Cement.

• Gluing Process
• Roughen the two
• surfaces to be glued with
• Emery cloth.
• 2) Apply a thin layer of
• glue.
• 3) Press two parts together
• and leave for 30 min.

Stage 1
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The End