how to secure plexiglass – ideas needed

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  • #8235
    Josh
    Keymaster

      For those of you who saw the demo of the display tables Saturday, we noted a desire to secure the panels of plexiglass to one another. PennLUG does this with binder clips. It’s not pretty, but it works.

      Pete did some recon work at Staples and found these plastic strips to hold reports together. His idea was to glue 2 together back to back and fit them in between the panels.

      I’m also thinking maybe we just cut those up into 3 or 4 inch sections and just place them horizontally at the top of the joint of the panels, just like the binder clip solution.

      I’m wondering if someone else has another material in mind or can come up with another creative solution to add more stability to the sneezeguard.

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      #8240
      Matt Redfield
      Participant

        Those plastic strips could work, but I’d prefer either a solid, uninterrupted border across the top of all the plexiglass, or a transparent clear version so it doesn’t distract from the viewing of the display (the latter being the best option, imho – minimal obstruction of the view.)

        #8243
        Josh
        Keymaster

          I’m also a big proponent of packing tape. Could just seal the cracks that way…with the torn edges below the table skirt.

          #8244
          Benjamin C Good
          Participant

            Did you guys decide how to attach them to the tables already? Is the plan to use them at Greenberg or will we have stanchions? I’m guessing there won’t be stanchions, since there weren’t last year, and it looks from the map like there isn’t space to spare for them.

            #8251
            Jonathan
            Participant

              Yeah how do they attach to the table? Would they not stand alone if they were attached to the table?

              #8258
              Josh
              Keymaster

                clamped to the table. They’re 16″ tall and 24″ wide, so they give a bit when you pull on them from the top. Also not a perfect straight line at the top without attaching them somehow.

                #8259
                Josh
                Keymaster

                  if you didn’t notice, that first picture I posted has 3 sheets installed.

                  #8264
                  Greg Schubert
                  Participant

                    we noted a desire to secure the panels of plexiglass to one another

                    What is the thickness of the plexiglass? I feel like I have seen a clear (non-LEGO) widget, shaped like a really skinny H, that joins flat pieces together at the edges.

                    I think a similar widget could be made out of wood in a wood shop; and a top railing could be made of precisely routed wood, but these parts would not be clear and might be too brittle.

                    I think a display building expert would be the person to talk to.

                    #8265
                    Greg Schubert
                    Participant

                      How about these?

                      http://www.industrialsheet.com/pages/Joiners.htm

                      Some of these joiners also solve the problem of the corners.

                      #8266
                      Josh
                      Keymaster

                        I Think I have the same “widget” in mind, but I can’t find anything online that would match…

                        I think you’re on to something with that joiner link… the sheets are 1/16th of an inch, or .060″

                        I’m only seeing a U joint so far on that site…

                        “display building expert”? I think most people doing displays either have permanent joins, a rigid frame, or a single sheet cut to size…I could be wrong though, let me know if you can think of something else.

                        #8267
                        Greg Schubert
                        Participant

                          http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=37217&catid=610

                          This page describes 2-way and 3-way joiners. They come in 8 foot lengths but we could cut 4 inch segments from them. The description says that it holds “butt ends together”, I’m not trying to be funny, I think we need to get the right terminology to find the solution which is probably already out there.

                          As for display experts, my brother used to create displays for a museum in Harrisburg and he is now an architect. I just emailed him. But you are right, it was a children’s museum with interactive exhibits and they tried to build most things to be indestructible, but he would know what company or catalog to check out.

                          #8269
                          Josh
                          Keymaster
                            #8270
                            Greg Schubert
                            Participant

                              now you’re talkin’!

                              #8271
                              Josh
                              Keymaster

                                filled my cart with the H connectors and some corner connectors…total came to $27…seems reasonable enough…but then $20 shipping…I emailed them…no way that’s actually shipping costs…

                                #8272
                                Anonymous

                                  Office topic, but nice tablecloths! They look good!

                                  #8273
                                  Josh
                                  Keymaster

                                    They do, Susie! Thank you for the leg work!

                                    So, do we also want some J connectors to cover the top butt joint, so corners are not exposed? Do we want a nice curved J joint across the entire top of the display? Or do we just want to get the H joints and go from there? I’d hate to pay shipping for J joints alone…

                                    http://displayproductsonline.com/versagrips/1-versa-grip-j-channel.html

                                    #8280
                                    Pete
                                    Participant

                                      I would think having the j connector at the top would also help stiffen the plexi.

                                      #8281
                                      Matt Redfield
                                      Participant

                                        Are those all transparent? White? Hard to tell… but yea, something along those lines would probably do the trick nicely.

                                        #8520
                                        Josh
                                        Keymaster

                                          order arrived today. PERFECT! Thanks, Greg, for getting us on the right path!

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                                          #8524
                                          Greg Schubert
                                          Participant

                                            “I love it when a plan comes together.”

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                                            #8530
                                            Pete
                                            Participant

                                              “I ain’t flying Hannibal!”

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