Ordering Perspex
There are lots and lots of suppliers, most do many types of plastics in most forms, sheet, round and square rod, tube etc. You will probably need to order by phone or internet unless your lucky enough to have a supplier on your doorstep.
To find a supplier just google what you want or goto ebay and stick it in the search. For example, if you need a flat piece of perspex search for "perspex sheet". You will get loads of results, later I will post a couple of links to suppliers that I have found to be excellent. Most suppliers will sell materials in a selection of pre-cut sizes. For example perspex sheet is sold in various thickness 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 15mm. Sheet sizes are usually 250mm X 250mm, 500mm X 250mm, 500mm X 500mm etc. going upto 1000mm. Some suppliers offer other dimensions but these are the common sizes and the idea is you buy the closest to your requirements. Rod and tube are sold in similar pre-cut lengths and by diameter. Tube is also available with varying wall thickness again 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 15mm.
There is also another consideration, there are 2 types of perspex, extruded and cast. Most sellers just do extruded and don't even offer the more expensive cast option. The difference is mostly in its optical properties, cast is very uniform and so is very clear, almost glass like. Extruded has slight variations in wall thickness and therefore not as clear as cast. However, for most applications I have found extruded is fine. Think I would only consider the extra cost of cast if I was making something that had to be crystal clear.
Here's the best tips
1. Find a supplier via google that stocks the type of perspex you require.
2. List the actual sizes of perspex you need.
3. Ring the company and order your perspex in the size you need. Don't be tempted to order the pre-cut sizes listed on the website. If you do you will spend ages cutting these pieces down to the sizes you actually want and probably ending up with rough edges and scratched perspex. These companies can cut perspex very accurately and most don't charge for cutting.
4. Extras. Some companies will also supply glues and other useful materials needed when working with perspex. You can also get any cuts polished, this is usually charged by the cut and you end up with a cut edge being as smooth as an uncut face. The perspex blocks underneath the motor in the pic below have had their cut edges polished.
Picking a Supplier
When I first started ordering perspex I used suppliers on ebay. The advantage of using suppliers on ebay is speed of supply and ease of payment and price. I have found prices are incredibly competitive and because of ebays feedback system these suppliers strive to get your order to you ASAP and with no problems. The disadvantage is you have to buy the pre-cut sizes offered in the listings. I went down this route but eventually realised that the company had a website external of ebay and after reading info there I began ringing or emailing orders for perspex in the actual sizes I needed.
Recommended Suppliers
Trent Plastics www.trentplastics.co.uk Tel Number 01427 611668
Trent Plastics (Fabrications) Ltd is one of the UK's leading online plastic stockholder & supplier of a large range of semi-finished plastics and engineering plastic materials, offering premium grade materials at industry leading prices.
I have used this supplier for almost all the perspex used in this Tesla build so far. All the orders have arrived well packed and very quickly. All cuts have been clean and very accurate. The extruded perspex is very good quality and wall thickness is pretty consistent. They also have listing on ebay if you prefer to buy on ebay. Their ebay shop can be found at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Trent-Plastics.
