G10/FR4

[Muddy13]

I've read in several places about using glass fibre sheet (often refered to as G10 or FR4, I think) to make backing plates and other supports, but I'm finding it hard to find a UK supplier. I expected to find it easily with the many epoxy resin suppliers, but no luck so far.

Any recommendations?

Thanks, Steve.

 

[lw395]

FR4 is a generic term for fire-retardent epoxy/glass pcb material.
I think G10 is a Norplex brand name of sorts?
You can buy it from electronics suppliers like rapid, usually with copper foil on one or both sides.
It's also often on ebay. try 'epoxy sheet' for a search. It tends to e dear, I can get pcbs from China cheaper!
You can remove the copper by heating and peeling.

Sometimes you get useful areas of frame around a pcb, which gets thrown away when the circuit is built.
It is getting harder to find useful bits in thicker panels.

Be aware that some circuit is resin/paper and not very strong. E.g veroboard.

 

[alahol2]

Fibreglass sheet here... http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/c-1084-rods-tubes-sheets.aspx
and several other places says Mr Google.

 

[rgarside]

Backing plates, etc, can also be done in Tufnol [Whale type for structural applications]. Amongst other, Direct Plastics sells it.

 

[blxm]

These are fairly thin sheets. Does anyone know of a supplier for thicker sheet, about 10-20mm perhaps. Google seems to be No help and eBay no results.

 

[lw395]

These are fairly thin sheets. Does anyone know of a supplier for thicker sheet, about 10-20mm perhaps. Google seems to be No help and eBay no results.

The only decent 10mm + sheets I found were chopped out of my yacht to add some portlights!
When I have needed serious GRP backing pieces, e.g. for a bow mooring cleat, I just laid them up myself.

 

[VicS]

I've read in several places about using glass fibre sheet (often refered to as G10 or FR4, I think) to make backing plates and other supports, but I'm finding it hard to find a UK supplier. I expected to find it easily with the many epoxy resin suppliers, but no luck so far.

Any recommendations?

Thanks, Steve.

Google for it and you will find suppliers eg http://www.gaatech.com/FR4-G10-GRP-Epoxy-Glass-Micarta-Laminate-Sheets-s/1818.htm

 

[Aja]

Google Ensinger or AI. They both supply G10 in thicknesses up to at least 25mm

Regards
Donald

 

[Muddy13]

Hi. Lee at EC Fiberglass let me have a few bits of scrap 5mm that I can stick together, many thanks Lee. I like the sound of the Tufnol stuff though.

Any tips on adhering the backing plates to the hull - just some epoxy? I've seen recommendations for 'freefix' too.

 

[rgarside]

Hi. Lee at EC Fiberglass let me have a few bits of scrap 5mm that I can stick together, many thanks Lee. I like the sound of the Tufnol stuff though.

Any tips on adhering the backing plates to the hull - just some epoxy? I've seen recommendations for 'freefix' too.

If you want the additional material to have a good structural bond to a glass fibre hull or deck, sand off the gelcoat/floatcoat, & clean with something like acetone before bonding with epoxy or similar. If it is backing that is going to be bolted through, then one would not need to be quite so determined about getting the structural bond.