what are they called

[dombanks]

i need to buy some blank cds and by blank i mean just the actual plastic disc no metal shiney covering on it just a cd sized clear plastic disc.

so what are these called as ive been trying for ages to figure it out. untill i do know what they are called i cant find out where to buy them.

alternatively anyone know a plastics ompany that will be able to supply me with cd sized (perhaps a little thicker) plastic discs with a hole in the middle?

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

dunno - but I can see this company from my office

http://www.balconplastics.co.uk/

might be worth a try?

[Tim Ellershaw]

how many do you want ?

we get them at the top and bottom of the stacks of discs we buy. Happy to send them if you only want a few.

Tim.

[Tim Ellershaw]

....or.....  take a normal DVD and spill coffee on it. Then sit back and watch the shiney stuff peel off.

(May only work if you have some very important data on it    )

[dombanks]

i need quite a few as im basically using them to mill microfluidic channels in and test different ideas on. i'd prefere something a little thicker tbh as it gives room to make a mess.

still got no idea what they are called so i gave up looking an got on with summat else.

[brindle]

i need quite a few as im basically using them to mill microfluidic channels in and test different ideas on. i'd prefere something a little thicker tbh as it gives room to make a mess.

still got no idea what they are called so i gave up looking an got on with summat else.

I already tried that, it didn't work.

[pistonbroke]

D.I.Y.  some plassy sheet and a 120mm hole saw  

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

You need to be aware that they are polycarbonate I believe and will be easily attacked by organic solvents. Also PC is very notch sensitive which means that its toughness disappears when it is scratched (milled?). Bernie's idea has merit and you can choose your material too. What are the fluids? Can you not use some of the millions of AOL CDs lying around used as pot plant coasters etc? There are coated only on one side as far as I know - unless transparency is necessary.

[dombanks]

at the mo polycarbonate is ok as we arnt using organics (yet) and the light transmittance is >400nm so we ge away with it.

primarily cds were used as they were a convenient size, easilly availaiable as a cdr, and cheap as chips to stuff up.

yes we have used a few AOL discs and any others that were lying around  they are cheap to get unlike fused silica or quartz. the channels that have been cut/we will be doing for now are qute crude but are fine for the point we are at.

bernie is on the right line for some of the stuff weve done but usually it just involved a square block stuck to a cd so it could be spun up easily. prob when we have a better idea of how it going to be we will just get a manufacturer to make it bespoke for us. any hoo i guess i should get back to scratching bits of plastic

[bhouse]

I have no idea if this will be relevant but Ibidi make a wide variety of microchannel plates and slides. They're usually happy to send out a few samples.

Brian