Question for custom board makers
 

I know that most guys who make custom big boards are using fiberboards for the playing fields and some guys are using metal. My question is, has anyone tried using plexiglass? I've been thinking of making my own large board, only because I can't afford the $400+ that most of them cost. So, I was just wondering if plexiglass would work????? If so, how would it compare to metal or fiberboard?

Vibration Absorption
 

Al,

I am not sure about plexiglass. Allow me to speculate, but I think plexiglass might absorb the transformer vibration, thus making the board slow. I use tile board that I bought from Home Depot. My playing field is vinyl.

Maurice

The Electric Coach

Yeah...you need something that carries the vibration as much as possible...I would think.

OK...all you engineers out there...what material, that could serve as a playing field, carries vibration the best?

Is it still good ole sheet metal?

Good Ole' Metal
 

Sheet metal is the best. I would rather use it instead of a tile board, but tile board is convenient. It's something that I can easily obtain.

Maurice

The Electric Coach

It works great but.....
 

plexi -glass seems to be much more sensitive to light with respect to expanding and contracting........It is nice to play on, and with my board, and others I have seen, the field cover is actually underneath the plexi-glass, which makes having and changing field covers a little challenging and also your motor(s) set up too.