Which epoxy for dead flat surfaces? and hardness?
I poured some epoxy last night trying to make a DIY surface plate of sorts. The product I used looks fantastic but it is not dead flat. So I was wondering if any and all epoxy's will self level to dead flat?
Maybe some are more runny than others and flatten out more? If so what is the chemical make up so that I can get some stuff over here in Australia. There may not be the same brand of epoxy over here.
Re: Which epoxy for dead flat surfaces? and hardness?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zathras
FWIW
I am getting my 1000x1000mm surface plate soon and will try the replication method using thin Mylar sheet to protect the Granite as I don't trust release agents. The last thing I want to do is ruin my $2000+ surface plate!
-Mark
How did it go? I am planning to do the same thing, using a granite kitchen counter top as a poor man surface plate.
Re: Which epoxy for dead flat surfaces? and hardness?
Maybe some are more runny than others and flatten out more chinese buffets near me If so what is the chemical make up so that I can get some stuff over here in Australia. There may not be the same brand of epoxy over here.
Re: Which epoxy for dead flat surfaces? and hardness?
So I would think you need a flat surface like a surface plate that has been leveled . Someone uses a precision level and leveled the working surface of the surface plate then you can cast off the top of the plate .
Re: Which epoxy for dead flat surfaces? and hardness?
Hi,
epoxies have a Youngs modulus of anywhere between 3GPa up to about 7GPa, ie about as stiff as a limp noodle. With good fillers you can get up to 35GPa but then you self leveling
goes out the window.
Craig
Re: Which epoxy for dead flat surfaces? and hardness?
You will never get FLAT resin, you will always have surface tension to mold walls, but more so as it cures you get as much as ~3% shirinkage and perticularly in the centres.
You would have to use a flat surface with walls built as a mold so you can gravity pour cast the surface.
How ever for FREE or a few bucks.... You can go past a local marble kitchen top manufacturer and they will have Granit and other hard dense rock etc offcuts around here are FREE to Take in scrap baskets out front..
All the marble etc stones are rotary ground & polished flat on large CNC surface grinders.
This would be the flatest surface without going to the expense of properly scraped flat ones.