[ ... my post snipped ... ]
O.K.
:-)
I think that the centers of some of the bumpers are support
columns distributed over the top, so I'm not sure what this proves
without knowing precisely where the weight was applied, and where the
support columns were relative to that.
That is somewhat more meaningful.
We don't know what other support members may be present hidden
from view.
O.K. They will certainly err on the conservative side.
Hmm ... I don't know the ID of your "6?" (which I presume to be
6 inch) pipe, so calculating from the OD, I come up with 28.27 square
inches, or 145.6 pounds total force.
Again -- I don't trust the bonded principle. There are a lot of
things which can go wrong in the bonding. And -- if you are going to
try solvent bonding over a large area -- expect the solvent to be
trapped in the center areas, weakening them.
And -- add to that the fact that acryllic tends to form cracks
from exposure to oil (from the machine tool which fabricated the parts,
unless you worked with totally clean new tools dipped in acetone to wash
off the oil before cutting. Also -- all clamping surfaces will
similarly need to be cleaned of oil totally.
Until I see evidence to the contrary, I am reluctant to consider
two layers of Plexiglas bonded together to be any stronger than the
thicker of the two individual layers.
This looks a lot smaller than what you originally wanted in
volume.
Maybe -- but consider that the walls are undergong lateral force
which could weaken them. Consider a pipe 20' tall supporting a load
something like 80% of the calculated safe load. Then apply 20% of that
force sideways to the center of the pipe. What would happen?
This -- I don't trust. Especially with the surface area being
solvent glued together. How long would it take the solvent to dry in
the center of the glued surface?
Well ... I tend to be rather conservative when it comes to
vacuum containers.
And for the tempered glass -- what happens with that if a
scratch is applied to the surface -- especially on the center of the
inside, so it becomes a stress riser.
I would feel more comfortable with Lexan. It is not as brittle
as Plexiglas. (Have you ever used the scribe and bend method of cutting
Plexiglas?)
You're welcome.
Best of luck,
DoN.
- posted 11 years ago