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<div>Hey Cheryl,</div>
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<div dir="auto">I'd recommend cast acrylic for laser cutting. It's very stable and with solvent adhesion, makes for strong pieces. Acrylic comes in different thicknesses and colors.</div>
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<div dir="auto">The colors are nice because you can have good color contrast without having to paint, which is better for overall durability. I've also used round and square acrylic rods to differentiate between structural and instructional features. </div>
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<div dir="auto">Matt</div>
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<div>Matt Gesualdi<br>
www.Tact-Ed.org (stay tuned for a new name and mission)</div>
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<div class="x_gmail_quote">On Jan 25, 2024 1:30 PM, Cheryl Fogle-Hatch via TAGS <tags@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br type="attribution">
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<div class="PlainText">Hi Matt. The maps are for display. They likely will be mounted on the<br>
front of display cases. If I suggest laser cutting, what material<br>
would you suggest?<br>
<br>
On 1/25/24, Noel Runyan via TAGS <tags@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br>
> Hi Cheryl,<br>
> There is an inexpensive method for producing braille and tactile graphics<br>
> materials that feel good and are more durable than standard paper braille<br>
> materials. The object is to make the embossed areas solid, rather than<br>
> hollow paper or plastic that can be squashed. Some transcription services<br>
> start by embossing on standard braille paper, to obtain the good feel of<br>
> paper dots and lines. Then they flip the paper over and fill in the holes<br>
> and lines with various plastic coating liquid. When dry, the plastic fills<br>
> in the holes, making them solid and very durable. That way, the reading<br>
> side of the tactile embossing feels like normal braille and tactile<br>
> graphics, without any of the moist finger stiction problems typically<br>
> encountered with thermoform, Swell paper, or other plastic or metal reading<br>
> surfaces.<br>
> Speaking of metal, there have been some tactile map production services that<br>
> make their maps out of metal sheets. These are expensive, but are sometimes<br>
> used in national parks and other places where they may be exposed to rain<br>
> and other outdoor stress.<br>
> Cordially,<br>
> If you haven't done so already, I'd encourage you to speak with Brian, at<br>
> National Braille Press, Boston, as they have several methods for producing<br>
> tactile maps.<br>
> Noel<br>
> -<br>
> Noel H. Runyan<br>
> Email: Noel@PersonalDataSystems.com<mailto:Noel@PersonalDataSystems.com><br>
><br>
> On 1/25/2024 7:32 AM, Matthew Gesualdi via TAGS wrote:<br>
>> Hi Cheryl, > > If these maps will be handed to people, then a light<br>
>> thermoformed > styrene plastic would work well. All the work is up front<br>
>> making the > tool, and then thermoforming more as you need them works<br>
>> well. > > If these are to be fixed to a display, then I'd recommend two ><br>
>> choices. 3D printing works well if the end product is covered with a ><br>
>> solvent that smooths the fiber layers so the map is cleanable. You > can<br>
>> also add different textures with the same methid. The second is > laser<br>
>> cutting. It makes for a hard, durable material but may require > more<br>
>> labor than any other method. > > Give me a shout if you want to talk more.<br>
>> > > Hope you are well. Matt Gesualdi > > Matt Gesualdi<br>
>> www.Tact-Ed.org<<a href="http://www.Tact-Ed.org">http://www.Tact-Ed.org</a>> (stay tuned for a new name and ><br>
>> mission) > > On Jan 24, 2024 9:41 AM, Cheryl Fogle-Hatch via TAGS ><br>
>> <tags@nfbnet.org><mailto:tags@nfbnet.org> wrote: > > Hi everyone. > > I am<br>
>> working with a mid-sized historical museum to create tactile > maps for<br>
>> display in their gallery. We are seeking more durable > materials than<br>
>> swell form or other paper products. They have a > fabrication department,<br>
>> and I'm considering recommending wood cut, or > laser cut, or vinyl or 3D<br>
>> printing (plastic). > > I'm curious if you have encountered tactile maps<br>
>> made of durable > material, and if so what you noticed, liked, or<br>
>> disliked. > > Thanks in advance. > > Cheryl > > > - Cheryl Fogle-Hatch,<br>
>> Ph.D. Archaeologist and Museum Professional > (443) 939-8217<br>
>> c.k.fogle@gmail.com<<a href="mailto:c.k.fogle@gmail.com">mailto:c.k.fogle@gmail.com</a>>
<a href="https://museumsenses.org">https://museumsenses.org</a> ><br>
>> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-fogle-hatch">https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-fogle-hatch</a> > ><br>
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<br>
-- <br>
Cheryl Fogle-Hatch, Ph.D.<br>
Archaeologist and Museum Professional<br>
(443) 939-8217<br>
c.k.fogle@gmail.com<br>
<a href="https://museumsenses.org">https://museumsenses.org</a><br>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-fogle-hatch">https://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-fogle-hatch</a><br>
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