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SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
Processing synthetic materials is much easier
compared to that of wood or metal. Metal is harder
and wood is not so homogenous. Synthetic materials
have become one of the most important materials in
(professional) model making, and there is such a vari-
ety of them that we can only list a small selection.
ABS:
Is offered in plates and profiles, it is white in colour
and is easy to saw, it can be formed somewhat
through warming and can be glued with "UHU ABS"
or Aceton.
Polyamide:
Is offered in bars, plates, bearings, cog wheels etc.
It is difficult to saw and cannot be glued, but it is
easy to turn.
Polystirole:
To be found as ready-made toy, kits,... or preforms.
It is easily cut and glued, but can brake in the cold.
Plexi-glass:
Traded as boards, profiles, tubes and blocks. Plexi-
glass can be sawn, turned, milled, moulded under
heat, easily polished (for windows) and also glued.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TYPES OF WOOD
Type:
Property:
Spruce
soft, little resin, clearly visible annual circles
Stone-pine
resinous, heavy, clear annual circles
Larch
tough, many branches
Birch
relatively soft, fine structure
Beech
hard, durable, fine, beautiful surface
Ashtree
heavy and hard
Lime-tree
very soft and durable, easy to colour
Poplar
very soft and good to work, easy to stain
HANDBOOK
METALS
Metals exist in varieties from very soft to very hard.
Soft metals can be processed easily with the UNIMAT
1 module system (to turn axes on the turning machi-
ne, produce gear-wheels with the dividing attachment
and the gear-milling head)
THE MOST IMPORTANT METALS
Brass:
Brass is commonly used, easy to process, does
not get rusty and has a pleasant, shining yellow
colour. But without processing (lacquer) it will soon
become unsightly. This metal is ideal for bearings,
housings and precision instrument constructions.
Copper:
Similar to brass, but tougher, and it is used com-
monly for creative works (jewellery and decorative
arts).
Aluminium:
Next to brass it is the most commonly used
ma terial. Aluminium exists in varieties from very soft
(soft aluminium) to extreme capacity ("Dural"-alumini-
um). It is stainless and has the big advantage of being
extremely light (iron is three times as heavy). Aluminium
can be processed very well with UNIMAT 1.
Iron and Steel:
These materials are too hard for UNIMAT 1, but
that does not mean that thin axes cannot be turned.
With some experience on the turning lathe (and
tool-sharpening) and with a sensitive way of working
you can also make a thin steelaxis. (acc. 162 470 and
the fixation for turning tool U63).
Precious metals:
UNIMAT 1 is also being used for the production of
gold and silver jewellery.
Application:
A cheap and frequently used wood (from paper to construction wood), in model building it is
mostly used in the form of strips, very difficult for woodturning.
Good turning wood, i.e. for small furniture (it has a homely character).
For furniture or wood-turned household tools.
For woodturning as well as for use as plywood plate for jig-saw works.
A much preferred type of wood for childrens` toys, jig-saw works, or as solid wood for the
woodturning lathe (bars for tiny works, e.g. toothpicks).
Because of its good firmness suitable for woodturning or for heavy use.
Ideal wood for woodturning and carving, very easy to process.
Like plywood easy to saw, used for laying or dibble games, boxes etc.
WOOD
There are as many types of wood as there are
trees in a forest. Even pieces of wood from the
same tree are not always the same. Branches and
roots are harder, the trunk is softer. An important
difference with a piece of wood is whether it is
freshly cut ("green or wet") or whether it is old, (and
therefore had time to "rest").
Examples are plywood, solid wood and chip-
boards.
Chipboards are made of sawdust which is
pressed into plates with glue and is (sometimes)
veneered (= thin layer of real wood or plastic). They
have the advantage that they do not warp and can
be produced cheaply.
Plywood is delivered in plates, various layers
(3-9) have been glued together. In comparison to
solid wood it is more resistant against warping and
can be excellently sawn, sanded and lacquered,
optimally glued, drilled, but not turned.
When starting with UNIMAT 1 we recommend to
use 4 mm poplar plywood.
Solid wood is "natural wood" and accordingly
difficult to be pressed into form. It warps, changes,
gets torn, can be attacked by worms and it can
become rotten.
But if it is seasoned, well dried (airy) and gets a
thorough after-treatment when it is processed (see
surface-treatment), then it is surely one of the most
beautiful materials.
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