UFO Lighting | Lighting that's out of this world
resin channel in pathway

RESIN CHANNEL

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY UFO

Glowing Lines of Light

CONTACT US TO DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT
resin channel in pool

RESIN CHANNEL

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY UFO

Glowing Lines of Light

CONTACT US TO DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT
resin channel under steps

RESIN CHANNEL

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY UFO

Glowing Lines of Light

CONTACT US TO DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT

Fibre Optic Resin Channel

  1. Home
  2. Fibre Optic Resin Channel

Overview

UFO resin filled channel, with an inner core of PMMA stranded sideglow fibre has been successfully used in swimming pools, on stair risers and in paving to provide an in-ground, flush fitting light line effect.
Manufactured from lengths of aluminium extrusion, the channel is firstly hard anodised and then coated with Plascoat PPA 571 to provide class leading protection from environmental elements. Clear tubing is then laid into the channel and clear resin is poured in, covering the tubing and allowed to fully cure. Finally, the fibre cable is inserted through the tubing.
The result is well defined line of light that can be recessed into many architectural features to provide either decorative effect or functional marker lighting.
Be aware that Resin Channel systems are manufactured to order and are subject to a lead time. Please talk to one of our sales representatives to discuss your particular project and manufacturing details.

Indicative Installation Diagram

resin channel indicative install

NSG-145 Fibre

Our resin channel always uses UFO NSG-145 stranded sideglow fibre. This the thickest bundle of stranded sideglow we offer and produces the brightest light output.
With an outer diameter of 14.5mm and a minimum bend radius of 64mm, NSG-145 is constructed from 0.75mm diameter PMMA acrylic optical fibres of twisted sub-bundles within a flexible clear jacket.
The fibres are twisted around a highly reflective PVC internal core that offers flexible stability combined with maximum light output.
More information on this fibre can be found on its datasheet.
Side Emitting PMMA Fibre Datasheet

Pulsar RGBW Light Source

The UFO Pulsar DMX is a powerful 130W RGBW light source which has been specifically designed to transmit the maximum amount of light through stranded sideglow fibre. This is our recommended light source for use with a resin channel system
Featuring full integral DMX, 0-10V, 1-10V, manual dimming and RF remote control. Effects available include colour change, dimming and twinkle effect.
Depending on the channel length specified and its layout, multiple Pulsar units may be required to illuminate the entire channel length.
Maximum run lengths, based on a Pulsar light source are shown below. Use of any other light source will result in different results.
run length
More information on the Pulsar light source can be found by downloading its datasheet below.
Pulsar Light Source Datasheet

Channel Dimensions

resin channel closeup
Standard aluminum channel dimensions are 1.0" a 1.0" x 1/8". Max. length is 2400mm, however multiple lengths can be butted together with a continuous length of fibre running between them..

Resin Cured Properties

HardnessBS2782: Part 3 Method 365B85 - 90 Shore D
Linear Shrinkage500x50x10mm<0.2%
Tensile StrengthBS2782: Part 3 Method 320B50 - 55 MPa
Elongation at BreakBS2782: Part 3 Method 320B10 - 15%
Flexural StrengthBS2782: Part 3 Method 335A50 - 55 MPa
Flexural ModulusBS2782: Part 3 Method 335A2200 - 2400 MPa
Heat Distortion Temp. (HDT)TMA48 - 53°C 118 - 127°F

Plascoat® PPA 571

Plascoat® PPA 571 is a thermoplastic coating powder. The following laboratory and field tests have been performed on suitably pre-treated metal:
Salt spray testing to ASTM B117 has exceeded 20,000 hours with no blistering, cracking, corrosion or flaking.
Under-film corrosion from a scribe tested to ASTM B117 for 1,000 hours on suitably pre-treated steel is between 0 and 0.5mm.
Loss of adhesion on testing to ASTM D 3359-A is zero.
After 2,000 hours QUV ASTM G154-06 (which supercedes ASTM G53), Xenon arc (ASTM G26) or five years in Florida at 45 degrees to the sun by the sea, there is no significant change in color, gloss or mechanical properties.
At suitable coating thickness, Plascoat® PPA 571 and PPA 571H will protect metal from impact of stones to automotive specifications (e.g. SAE 400), to water industry standard(WIS 4 52 01 or AS/NZS 4158) and from aggregate slurries (ASTM A926-94).
Plascoat® PPA 571 has been tested to ASTM A 926-94 (salt and grit). After one million cycles all other coatings (including fusion-bonded epoxy and galvanising) were completely stripped. Over half of Plascoat® PPA 571 coating still remained.

Resin Channel Datasheet

Resin Channel Datasheet