Edge lit acrylic

[jseiler]

I am trying to source small amounts of edge lit acrylic. This is the stuff that when you shine a light in the edge, it comes out the front and it comes in 1/4" thick sheets. Endlighten is one brand. Are there any sign making places that source small amounts like half sheets. I want to play with some, but I can't find small pieces.

thanks,
John

[billp]

John,
CYRO makes their "Acrylite FL"which sounds like what you want ( The "FL"stands for "flourescent"...). Most sign supply houses stock this brand, as well as some less expensive imports, but most imported colors aren't as vivid as the Acrylite stuff...
We used to pay about $150 a sheet (.125")a few years back, you'll need to check for current pricing...I know that it does come in thicknesses up to .5"

[billp]

John,
Is this the effect you are looking for?
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[jseiler]

I'm looking for the clear stuff they use in signs for backlighting.

http://www.signindustry.com/pressrelease/2005/2005-05-16-CYROendlighten.php3

[jamesgilliam]

John, If you have ever bought from local sign or plastic suppliers they may have some pieces you can get at little or no cost. I know my salesman in Austin puts back small pieces of different materials for me to play with, usually free. James

[jseiler]

Man, could someone make a huge amount of money *reliably* sourcing small amounts of exotic material. Kingboard, gator, endlighten, FL, corian in various thicknesses and colors. Some of this is available on ebay, but not always reliably.

If I go full time someday, I'll source supplier quantities and sell hobbyist sizes that can be UPS shipped.

John

[Gary Campbell]

John..
I didnt look to see if they have what you are looking for, but here is a website for "project" size plastics.
http://www.indplastic.com/
Gary

[jseiler]

I looked and they have lots of "plain" stuff. Clear acrylic, polycarb, sheets and tubes and stuff. I emailed them.

[jseiler]

I found custom sized pieces of endlighten acrylic here: It's expensive!

http://www.acrylite-shop.com/US/us/acrylite-endlighten-crfo8s7j0ro/acrylite-endlighten-clear-0n001-l-lb58aa7catf~p.html?know=search%3Aendlighten

[bill]

John,
Is this what you are thinking of doing? If I can help..... let me know.

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[aaasigncom]

I HAVE SEVERAL CASES OF AWARD GRADE ACRYLIC ENGRAVING BLANKS SIZE 7" X 10" WITH BEVELED EDGES. $ 14.00 EACH. IT EDGE LIGHTS GREAT TONY www.AAASIGN.com (http://www.AAASIGN.com) 317 297-7503 MINIMUM PURCHASE 3

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[jseiler]

Hey Bill. I was looking more for back lighting pictures and lithophanes. I got some environmental lights led strips last night, hooked them up. They glowed brightly for about a second, then nothing. I've not troubleshot that yet. I used their connector, their small power supply, followed polarity and their pdf instructions. Grrr.

Tony...suprised I didn't see you in pittsburgh for vectric. Good stuff.

later,
John

[myxpykalix]

john if you want to effectively and safely light lithopanes then google "cold cathode lights"

I use http://www.xoxide.com/coldcathodes.html
they are like 8 bucks for a 12" long double pack. The nice thing about cold cathode is they give a uniform glowing light that has almost no heat to it at all and the bulbs are rated for 30,000 hours of running time. They are low voltage and very safe.

[jerry_stanek]

If you really want to light then use the bright white leds they are real easy to hook up and only take 12 volt dc 500 ma to power them. you can cut them into strips of 3 so you can do smaller lithos.

[jerry_stanek]

here is a picture of a litho I did using 2 strips of led lights. I used 18 total leds in this box and there is 24 in the open box. the picture of the family is about 8 X 10




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[jseiler]

The pigtail connector that environmental lights sold me was defective. I didn't want to cut the connector off their power supply, so I went to my box of old wall warts and found one marked 12V DC 300ma. Suprisingly, it put out 16 v open circuit and about 13 under a 12" light strip load. When you put the light strip on the edge of the endlighten plastic, you get amazingly uniform lighting.

Its definately not cheap but the result is pretty nice.

John