Simple question. I'm staying late at the shop tonight (w/permision) and I'm thinking I should space the fresnel from the temp glass. This would put it centered under the air slot, splitting the air between the glass & lcd. Will the hot glass hurt the fresnel?
I'm ready to starte cutting! Thanks Mike

Mike, my fresnels have been mounted to my glass for hundreds of hours of usage without any damage from heat. These lenses are made for OHPs so they are very heat tolerant. (But don't mount them on the lamp side hehe)

i am using 3/16" inch tempered glass instead of 1/8" inch. Is there any reason i shouldnt be? i figured a little thicker couldnt hurt

Won't hurt a thing. But in front of the panel you'd want to go as thin as you could since you're passing information through the glass.

why would you have glass in front of the panel?

To mount your field fresnel on. You need that lens to be as flat as it can be. You can also build a frame for it.

oh allright cool, that glass doesnt need to be tempered though correct?

Sure doesn't, just a thin piece of standard glass. Should only cost a few bucks from the local hardware. A good idea to use a piece of tape around the edge (not in the image path) to avoid cuts.

cool thanks

Thanks Brain. I just cut down the light box w/the table saw, Now were having fun.
Back to the shop

What is the best place to buy tempered glass? I asked the guy at Lowes and he said they didn't sell it. It also appeared like the bell for 7th period english rang and he went straight to his job at Lowes, so I'm not sure.

Look under 'glass' in the phone book. I'm sure Lowe's must sell it, it has to be special ordered.

Actually,the local Lowes here said no to tempered also.

I ended calling a local glass store and paying $6.00 and waiting only 2 days.

Lowes here didnt carry it either. I went to a local glass shop too but if no sucess you could always try: http://www.onedayglass.com/prices.html or look for something else online. This place you will pay a little more because of processing fees. but it will ship either they day you order it or the next. Looks like it wouls cost around 13 bucks somewhere.

Damn.. I got stuck getting it from a glass shop and footing a $28 bill.. because they had a minimum order.. grrr Guess that's what I get for not shopping around.

Man Lowes sucks. Even the little mom and pop down the street sells tempered.

I got the shaft also on the glass, paid a min fee of $20.00 and waited 3 days. I even looked online with no luck. :angry:

Brain,

What are the exact dimensions needed for tempered glass? I'm going to have a piece cut at an online source (found here on your website). Should it be the same dimension as the fresnel lenses? I recall you have to leave some area for venting to cool the lamp/ballast area. So, based on your design, what should the dimension be?

rickmanz

My glass is 13.75" x 9.75"