Polarised optical filter material

Hi all.

For an electronic project, I'm wanting a couple of small discs of polarised transparent plastic. The kind of thing you see in science fairs to demonstrate the polarisation of light.

Anybody know where I can get some in the UK?

I did google for it but got swamped by references to cameras and glasses etc.

TIA, K.

Are they circularly or linearly polarized?

If you just need tiny pieces you might be able to canibalize a cheap pair of 3-D glasses. A quick google finds an outfit in California for a couple of dollars US for 3 pairs of crap cardboard polarizing glasses, plus 5 quid or so to get them to the UK by airmail.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

look for a pair of non prescription polarized sunglasses.

I have often seen the type that are just some formed plastic that fit over regular glasses.

Dan

-- Dan Hollands

Hi Kryten !

I have some linearly polarized about 0.5 mm thick film. I can send you some trough the mail. Don't cost much for me and makes your project alive.

Cheers,

Janne, OH1GTF from Finland

PS. I'm pretty confused about John's reply.

"John Fields" wrote

Edmund Scientific are in the USA - I can't see a UK site.

Their Optics section just sells this pair of 3" diameter filters:

A 1" disc would be a ninth of the material, and hopefully be proportionately cheaper. I only need to shine a single LED through the two filters.

"Dan Hollands" wrote

Hmm, I may have some old cheap shades I can cannibalise.

Shades have curved material, but I suppose that is not going to be a problem for a prototype.

Sometimes true -- but to do that they buy worldwide.

Other UK buyers of polarizing film have clearly found this supplier quite acceptable:

Just the plain old linear.

I recall those having two colours.

Which added to the charming cheesiness of such movies.

Indeed.

I was just looking for a place in the UK. Surely someone sells the stuff here...

It is one solution, but one always does a bit of shopping/asking around for the best solution. If that's the best solution, I'll take it. But I suspect the polaroid film itself only costs a few cents, not dollars.

I'm sorry to hear that, but maybe you'll find an effective laxative and that will all change.

Well, you seem to give a large enough s*it to post a rude reply.

I don't do that even for the most clueless newbie.

Nobody is obliged to post replies here.

A lot of engineering revolves around finding the most cost-effective solutions to a problem. Somebody said a good engineer can do a job well for $3 of parts what anyone could do for $30.

There were perfectly good hand-made custom built motor cars before Henry Ford. And perfectly good computers before Apple.

There are likewise other solutions to do what I want to do but they are extremely expensive and far more accurate than I need.

And it isn't a matter of being too mean to stump up cash. My idea needs the polarised items to rotate - and change speed - pretty fast, therefore being smaller and lighter reduces the angular inertia.

If any gentlemen/women happen to know any good places in the UK for buying a bit of polarised film/glass cheaply, that would be absolutely tickety boo if it is not trouble.

Other types of persons need not bother to give a s*it, a f*ck, or an irritated reply.

Thanks, K.

Or if you want other types of polariser, try Knight optical:

Best Wishes

Farnell and RS do sheets of *circularly* polarising plastic for use as antireflective display filters. A few quid each IIRC.

Cheers! Rich

Buy a very cheap calculator. Open it up, and in front of the display, the bit of plastic is a polariser that may suit.

Try Greenweld, they often have surplus/new stuff like that (lenses, filters, fibre optics bits). They are UK based. Also Bull Electrical, or whatever they call themselves nowadays! (J&N Bull, J&N Factors ...)

Thanks.

I found that the material is only pennies per square inch for the film from