FAQs – STG

What is the largest glass sheet you can process?STG2019-12-16T12:49:05+00:00

We are able to process a piece of glass no larger than 2.7m in length by 1.3m in width.

What glass thicknesses can you process?STG2019-12-16T12:49:00+00:00

We are able to process glass between 4mm and 25mm. These sizes are not affected by any machine constraints or limitations.

How heavy will a pane of glass be at (“x”) size?STG2019-12-16T12:48:54+00:00

The weight of a finished piece of glazing can be found out using the following equation: Width x height x thickness x 2.5kg.

Example: Glazing Item 1 = 750mm x 1M at 4mm Thickness (0.75 x 1 x 4 x 2.5) = 7.5kg.

Example: Glazing Item 2 = 2.5M x 1.7M at 6mm Thickness (2.5 x 1.7 x 6 x 2.5) = 63.75kg.

What glass tints do you have available?STG2019-12-16T12:48:49+00:00

Other than clear glass we are able to provide grey, green, bronze and a special opti-white which is colour neutral and highly recommended if you intend to print a design on the glass using our digital printer.

What will the edge of my glass look like? Is there a choice?STG2019-12-16T12:48:44+00:00

During your initial enquiry you will be asked what finish you would like for the edge of your glazing.

If the glass is going in a frame and the edge is not on show the fastest solution would be to get the sharp edge taken off by our dry belt sander (arrised) though the edge will not be tidy.

If all edges of the design are straight we can also offer our polished SLE (straight line edger) finish which will leave a 1.3mm bevelled edge and mitred corners unless you request the corners to be dubbed (minimum 3mm)

Finally if the glass contains large radius corners or the edge is on show we can use one of our CNC machines to provide a smooth polished edge to the glass.

What processes can you do?STG2019-12-16T12:48:39+00:00

We are able to use a combination of toughening, laminating, printing and double glazing services in order to produce a suitable solution for any project enquiry.

After the technical drawings have been confirmed and finalised for your patterns, each pane will be cut via our cutting table then the sharp edge will be removed via the SLE or CNC depending on the design of the glass.

Once the edge has been processed we would then mark and drill the holes via our tower drill or an additional tool in the CNC, before allowing the glass to continue to the finishing stages (printing, toughening and laminating)

If the patterns require a print design, the design would be printed before toughening and allowed to dry before it is sent to the oven. Once toughened to EN12150 Standards, the glass would be ready for final inspection or continue to the laminating phase if required.

What file types do you accept?STG2019-12-16T12:48:34+00:00

For processing standard glass we accept AutoCAD files in .dwg and .dxf format, as well as .pdf representations of drawing files with dimensions, thickness, tint and all other important information clearly displayed.

If you do not have access to AutoCAD do not worry, our technical team can create all the files required for you from basic sketches and descriptions though it may require additional communication and sign off before production.

For printed images we accept all standard image types such as .jpeg, .bmp, .pdf, .png and .tiff. Images must be of a resolution that is suitable for the size of glass they intend to be printed on. If an image is sent to us that is the size of a postcard but is required to be 1 x 2 meters in width and height there is a very good chance that the print will come out pixelated due to the amount of pixels per inch dropping below minimum suitable ranges. An image that has roughly 150-300 pixels per inch once manipulated to suit the glass will show far better results than an image with less than 150 dpi. We also accept vector based patterns and shapes.

What is a vector graphic?STG2019-12-16T12:48:28+00:00

Vector graphics are comprised of shapes and text using point to point geometric data to show the file on screen. Vector files can be scaled to any size with no loss in quality as the geometric points simply move to a new coordinate keeping the complexity of the shape the same. Companies usually have or can obtain vector versions of their logos for this purpose so that they can have their brand logo on any form of advertising, such as a business card or even a roadside billboard. Vector Files are saved in the following formats

.AI : Adobe Illustrator file – These files are the most common when it comes to vector graphics. Even though we do not have Adobe Illustrator (11/05/2015) these files can currently be opened and edited using CorelDraw with only a slight loss In the ability to modify the file due to the limitations of Corel Compared to Illustrator.

.EPS : Encapsulated Postscript file – EPS files can also be opened in CorelDraw but can have compatibility problems depending on the settings configured by the original user of the file. It has also been known on occasion that the files cannot be modified due to the file only containing a single flattened shape of geometric data instead of an open one consisting of multiple shapes that make up the overall image.

.PDF – Generally speaking pdf is a cross over file between vector and bitmap graphic. Pdf will only save the data “as is” and not change any data saved into it. For Example, If the original file was not a vector graphic saving it as a pdf will not make it one but it will provide a decent level of quality without much (if any) compression to the file so it is a good compromise if vector files are not able to be saved.

.SVG – This file is the least ideal out of all the vector graphic types. SVG files are not as compatible with CorelDraw (though it will still open) as the above formats and can even lose colour data and shape data when opened in this program resulting in an incorrect shape/print .