fine egg-crate stock

May 31, 2007 10 Replies
L

I got a request from a customer for a "fine grille" on one soffit mounted A/C vent over a counter-top/desk.



I showed him a sample of 1/2" x 1/2" aluminum return grille material, and he wants the holes about half that size.



Yeah... I told him about reduced air flow, etc, but this is all about cosmetics, and it's only one vent, not all of them.



I've dug around the web, and only found 1/2" cells and larger. Local supplier doesn't stock anything smaller.



Does anyone here know of a source for egg-crate style grille material in



1/4" openings? It could even be lighting grille material, cut to size. I can figure out the escutchion to hold it on the boot, but I'm ready to make a custom grille.

LLoyd


Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

--Search around for plastic stuff: there's more variety and it's probably a lot cheaper. Make an aluminum frame for it if you have to.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
G

Honeycomb panels are used for RF shielding. For example:

formatting link
As far as I know they are all custom made and cell size and size can be specified. They likely to be costly for your application. I would look around the surplus market. Key words are shielding, EMI, Honeycomb panels, shielded rooms, waveguide below cutoff.

Regards,

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

done it.... the standards are 1/2", 3/4", 1-1/2", and 3". I need 1/4".

LLoyd

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

Thanks... that might be the lead I need.

LLoyd

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

Nope.... all the shielding material is 1/8" cell. Too small for this app.

It would work OK, but I've been given the "1/4-inch command".

I checked out honeycomb core material for panels, and it is available in

1/4" cell, but the foil is only (max) 0.002" thick... much too fragile for handing.

LLoyd

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
P

I've seen honeycomb AL material used on jet engines (P&W 4090 was the last I saw), so somebody makes it. The difficult part is finding out who and then being able to get a small piece.

If it's a one-off thing and the material is not critical you might consider cutting the pattern into a mold of some sort and casting the piece in a good filled epoxy material.

Pete C.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

Well if you get desperate you could go to a kitchen supply store and buy a large waffle grid, then mix up some polyester resin and some fiberglass strands and pour/mold your own.

I have seen 1/4" used as speaker grill material on older speakers.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
B

You may be able to use the fiberglass "honeycomb" material used as core for composite structures in both boat and aircraft building. Try a Google for "aircraft spruce" (may be

formatting link
) who sell the stuff. I think they may have what you want.

Bruce in Bangkok (brucepaigeatgmaildotcom)

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

Bruce, Aircraftspruce only carries the 1/8" cell size, but they list others as in the line. Thanks... that was the link I needed.

LLoyd

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
B

Lloyd,

Aircraft spruce certainly doesn't make the honeycomb so further searches may turn up the manufacturer, or wholesaler. Certainly other dimensions are available commercially. I well remember making aileron trim tab repairs for the Boeing 707 (KC-135) using the material and IIRC we stocked it in various dimensions. I have a mate who does a lot of composite work and will ask him, tomorrow, if he has a reference for a supplier.

Bruce in Bangkok (brucepaigeatgmaildotcom)

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required