[TAGS] seeking durable material for tactile maps

[Noel Runyan]

Hi Cheryl,
There is an inexpensive method for producing braille and tactile graphics materials that feel good and are more durable than standard paper braille materials.  The object is to make the embossed areas solid, rather than hollow paper or plastic that can be squashed.  Some transcription services start by embossing on standard braille paper, to obtain the good feel of paper dots and lines.  Then they flip the paper over and fill in the holes and lines with various plastic coating liquid.  When dry, the plastic fills in the holes, making them solid and very durable.  That way, the reading side of the tactile embossing feels like normal braille and tactile graphics, without any of the moist finger stiction problems typically encountered with thermoform, Swell paper, or other plastic or metal reading surfaces.
Speaking of metal, there have been some tactile map production services that make their maps out of metal sheets.  These are expensive, but are sometimes used in national parks and other places where they may be exposed to rain and other outdoor stress.
Cordially,
If you haven't done so already, I'd encourage you to speak with Brian, at National Braille Press, Boston, as they have several methods for producing tactile maps.
Noel
-
Noel H. Runyan
Email: Noel at PersonalDataSystems.com<mailto:Noel at PersonalDataSystems.com>

On 1/25/2024 7:32 AM, Matthew Gesualdi via TAGS wrote:
> Hi Cheryl, > > If these maps will be handed to people, then a light thermoformed > styrene plastic would work well. All the work is up front making the > tool, and then thermoforming more as you need them works well. > > If these are to be fixed to a display, then I'd recommend two > choices. 3D printing works well if the end product is covered with a > solvent that smooths the fiber layers so the map is cleanable. You > can also add different textures with the same methid. The second is > laser cutting. It makes for a hard, durable material but may require > more labor than any other method. > > Give me a shout if you want to talk more. > > Hope you are well. Matt Gesualdi > > Matt Gesualdi www.Tact-Ed.org<http://www.Tact-Ed.org> (stay tuned for a new name and > mission) > > On Jan 24, 2024 9:41 AM, Cheryl Fogle-Hatch via TAGS > <tags at nfbnet.org><mailto:tags at nfbnet.org> wrote: > > Hi everyone. > > I am working with a mid-sized historical museum to create tactile > maps for display in their gallery. We are seeking more durable > materials than swell form or other paper products. They have a > fabrication department, and I'm considering recommending wood cut, or > laser cut, or vinyl or 3D printing (plastic). > > I'm curious if you have encountered tactile maps made of durable > material, and if so what you noticed, liked, or disliked. > > Thanks in advance. > > Cheryl > > > - Cheryl Fogle-Hatch, Ph.D. Archaeologist and Museum Professional > (443) 939-8217 c.k.fogle at gmail.com<mailto:c.k.fogle at gmail.com> https://museumsenses.org > https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-fogle-hatch > > _______________________________________________ TAGS mailing list > TAGS at nfbnet.org<mailto:TAGS at nfbnet.org> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/tags_nfbnet.org To > unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > TAGS: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/tags_nfbnet.org/matt%40tact-ed.org > > > > _______________________________________________ TAGS mailing list > TAGS at nfbnet.org<mailto:TAGS at nfbnet.org> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/tags_nfbnet.org To > unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > TAGS: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/tags_nfbnet.org/noel%40personaldatasystems.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/tags_nfbnet.org/attachments/20240125/cce74d1a/attachment.html>