3/8" or 1/2" thick acrylic for 3x4' projection table surface. Trying to make it light

[aluminumwelder]

I'm going to make a projection table for a client that is portable. they will use it with microsoft surface technology/software to display photos on it. It will have a sturday aluminum frame with 4 legs, one in each corner about 42" tall from the ground. typically it will be set up for 5 to 6 hours at a time and then broken down and stored vertically, until the next presentation.

I know 1/2" acrylic will easily span the entire width but in an effort to make this as light as possible, will 3/8" thick work just as well for the 3x4' table size?

I typically do not work with plastic this thick, so hoping someone with first hand experience can chime in? On top of this surface will be 1/16th white lexan which will provide the diffuse surface the image will appear on.

 

[letterman7]

If you build the perimeter frame to accept a "slide-in" panel like a standard lit signbox, you can get away with using 3/16" or 1/4" white acrylic only. It's not that big a panel, so any tendency to bow downwards is much reduced, as long as all four sides are supported.

 

[aluminumwelder]

Thanks!