View Single Post
Re: studio setup - platform
Old 12-17-2004, 08:06 AM   #2 (permalink)
jford
Lifetime Amateur

 
jford's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Member GG#: 35246
Location: Indiana, PA
Posts: 2,436
Comments: 7

jford is online now IP: 144.80.193.138
  Reply With Quote

Disclaimer - I am no contractor, nor a structural engineer.

You're right, ordinary Plexiglas or other acrylic in ordinary thicknesses will not support 40-70 kg over a 2 m span. But, AFAIK, neither will most other flooring. Here in the US, floor joists are typically 16" apart and spanned by 3/4" plywood or similar material.

You're trying to accomplish something rather special. You CAN secure glass in thickness of more than 2.5 cm, but it'll cost you, it'll be very heavy, and it'll require some special consideration in construction.

Just a thought, but if you're trying to achieve a glowing floor, as opposed to a transparent floor, maybe you should think about highly diffusive materials to spread the light "around" the subflooring supports. I can envision a torsion box design that would probably meet your needs in this fashion, but a transparent floor is another kettle of fish.
  View Public Profile Send a private message to jford Visit jford's homepage! Find More Posts by jford