1mm thick custom lens needed, any idea?

bikerjay

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Sep 2, 2008
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I am in the process of building up yet another light for my bike. This one has 6 xp-e with 10mm square carclo optics. I need a protective lens to slide into the front of my light housing, needs to be 1mm thick and approximately 12mm x 65mm. I am open to glass, poly carbonate ect. I am currently thinking about cutting a plastic window meant to go over a welding shield. I want something with good transparency that I can cut to the desired size mostly to keep it cheap, I dont have tons to spend on this so paying lots of money for custom cut glass is probably out of the question.
 

Oznog

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Dec 2, 2006
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KD/DX SELL very thin flat glass lenses in a variety of widths.

Acrylic is superior to Lexan (polycarbonate) because it's more scratch resistant. However, either one probably can't realistically be made to 1mm thickness. It's too easy to break. KD/DX also have acrylic lenses, you will note that they are thicker than the glass but that's apparently what the application called for.
 

LukeA

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However, either one probably can't realistically be made to 1mm thickness. It's too easy to break.

Are you kidding?

If I were building this and wanted to keep it cheap, I'd use a strip cut from a CD case.

A bike light doesn't see that much scratching (unless you crash all the time). You'll be better off adding an aluminum shroud to guard the lens than to try to prevent scratching with a harder lens material.
 

Oznog

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Well you can try.

CD cases are a polystyrene plastic. Not a typical optical material. Not sure how that'll work out.

KD/DX used 1mm for glass and 2.54mm for acrylic.

Ok I didn't realize we were talking about one huge rectangular piece. Well, you can try whatever.

There may be thermal expansion issues if the plastic or the material it's mounted on will get hot.
 

znomit

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I have used overhead projector sheets with great success (mylar I think). Its 0.1mm, very durable and scratch resistant.
 

65535

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I would use acrylic, 1mm sheet can be simply scored and snapped in straight lines easily.

A CD case would be perfectly fine for this, simply score it deeply with a few passes of a knife blade using the tip pulling backwards to gouge rather than cut, then snap the line by bending it towards the opposite side from the score.

It's a good idea to remove any edges and score the entire length, only scoring the size you want will result in a shatter piece.
 

trout

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Jay the welding helmet viser is perfect it is what i am using in some of mine .

confesion time the housing had a window in it when I was wrapping it to post , but after I mailed it I found the window on the floor :whoopin:
 
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