Subject: Re: Teflon

From: [email-masked] (john)
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 96 18:45:42 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
   Larry <[email-masked]> wrote:
>Recently, someone posted a message in the Amateur Telescope Making
>group about a teflon material used to recondition worn surfaces
>on machine tools. The material was described as:
>
>- 1/32" inch thick
>
>- etched on one side so that it could be bonded to the worn way
>
>- made of a teflon composite to avoid the cold-flow problems pure
>  teflon has
>
>- scrapable, like cast iron
>
>Has anyone heard of this method of repair? It seems like it could be
>much less work the the traditional method of scraping the metal. In
>particular, I hope it could help get my South Bend 9B lathe back to
>not cutting a taper.
>
>Larry Phillips
>Richmond, VA
Sounds like your referring to a teflon glass composite used in vast quantity 
by the microwave industry. It is available in both woven and non-woven forms 
and is available in a wide range of thicknesses. Usually it is copper clad on 
both sides (like a circuit board), however you could easily etch or peel one 
side off. The material is made by many manufacturers such as 3m, Rogers, and 
Taconic plastics. The first thing you will find, though is that it is VERY 
expensive. Your best bet would be to find a local circuit board shop and see 
if they have any remnants. 1/32 is a real popular size for microstrip work.
I have no idea how this would work to repair a worn way. I'd be very 
interested to find out how it works.

---

From: Larry <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 15:28:19 -0700

- 1/32" inch thick

Larry Phillips
Richmond, VA

---

From: [email-masked] (Jonathan M. Elson)
Date: 23 Sep 1996 04:54:22 GMT

Larry ([email-masked]) wrote:
: Recently, someone posted a message in the Amateur Telescope Making
: group about a teflon material used to recondition worn surfaces
: on machine tools. The material was described as:

: - 1/32" inch thick

: - etched on one side so that it could be bonded to the worn way

: - made of a teflon composite to avoid the cold-flow problems pure
:   teflon has

: - scrapable, like cast iron

: Has anyone heard of this method of repair? It seems like it could be
: much less work the the traditional method of scraping the metal. In
: particular, I hope it could help get my South Bend 9B lathe back to
: not cutting a taper.

This is Turcite.  I don't know where you can get it, but it is considered
one of the best methods of restoring old machines, as well as wear-proofing
new ones.  Many new CNC machines come with Turcite-surfaced ways.
Be warned, it is apparently VERY expensive stuff - each strip may run
several hundred dollars.  it is pronounced with a hard 'C', like Turkey.
You might ask araound at local machine tool dealers.