Currently I am in the process of getting my shoptask 3in1 back up and running because I have a new found re-interest in hobby-machining but I need some help with a couple of things. One of the many projects I am looking at trying is taking one of my radio controlled cars and increasing the size of the vehicle. While it would look very nice all done in aluminum I don't really don't have the money to spend experimenting with that grade of material. there for I have been looking at some lesser expensive alternatives for prototyping and mocking up the build to see if I have the patients and talent to take on this project.
My questions...
Does anyone have any experience with Polyethylene? I was looking on McMaster-car at some low cost alternatives to aluminum and this particular plastic caught my eye. According to the web site it is a high tensile strength plastic with good wear characteristics but how is it in the mill? Would it require any special tools or techniques to get a good quality part from. At around $35 for a 12" x 24" x 1/2" thick piece it would be more that enough for over half of the parts in the car but. with this I hope that it would be a strong enough part that I might even be able to drive the car with the parts that I made until I can get them re-machined out of a good grade aluminum.
Keeping low cost as being a "main characteristics" are there any other materials that I can look into as an alternative? Teflon for example... While not exactly cheep in its 12 X 24 X 1/2 sheet from McMaster-car I have found a supply in relatively smaller more affordable sizes. My Wife recently picked up a 12" X 16" X 1/2" thick cutting board from the store for about $15. While it would take a few more of these to complete the car it is still cheaper than the hefty $75 plus price tag from McMaster. Again I would like to know what machine-ability this material is and what special precautions I should take if necessary.
Thanks for any and all inputs.
Mike.