Glass Side plate?

[CropCircle]

Howdy all!!
I'm a some what a newbie at the craft of Machine Building, and have built a few machines for myself, but my question is, "Can I use glass of good quality and thickness for a side plate?" Thanks for all the great and valuable info!

[FORGIVEN]

hello..
welcome to the forum ..
i'd say no ,to the glass ...maybe Pyrex ,but even then ...
too many disasters waiting to happen ...i've seen plexiglass ,just something about it that makes me cringe ...
i could be wrong here ...i wouldnt chance it though ..
peace
A.

[CropCircle]

hey thanks Forgiven, for the advice! I will take that inconsideration! Maybe I'll just make a few machines with pyrex side plate strictly for a collectors piece, instead of practical useage. Once again, thanks for the advice!!!

[Tat2Pete]

CropCircle,
Percy Waters used "Bakelite" for side plates. They weren't very pretty but were very functional.
Pete

[poconosrob]

Ive done some glass forming in molds.....just wonder how you would bond the glass to the bottom plate??.....unless you molded the entire frame at once..hmmmmm :D

[CropCircle]

well, I've done some homework on the pyrex side plate, and the only way I could put it to the frame was to make it a bolt on side plate, bolting it to the base, and then bolting the spring deck to the glass! I have a glass co. that is basically just up the road from me, and he has agreed to cutting the glass, and drilling all the holes for me! We'll just have to see what happens now!

Jason

[diseblot]

maybe when you tighten the bolt the pyrex would break, have seen a few with plexi glass they look cool to some degree