Just to get some hard(ish) data, both preferences and why.

The Auld Grump

Keeping this one - there was a hiccup and I somehow posted twice instead of editing....

The Auld Grump

I'd say 3/16" is probably the best way to go. It's the most common size out there, and most people would be able to use it with what they've already built without any hickups. I'd like to say I'm one of them, but... Well, the board that I'm building (pics once it's done, I promise - it'll be impressive), in addition to being 96% scale (forgot to turn off scaling... d'oh!) is being built on board that's about half as thick as standard. I'd switch to a different size, but after cutting out all the templates already (and having half the build done already), I'm not really wanting to switch halfway through... 3/16ths all the way after that, though (especially once I get a craftrobo and if I can get my hands on some of those premade templates).
Magius out.

I voted for 1/4". I'd rather have cleanly built tiles for all of my future layouts. Going with 3/16 would be a mistake because regardless of what Denny intended, too much of TLX depends on the assumption that finished tiles are 1/4" thick. Sure, 3/16" doesn't affect functionality, but it's easier to get a clean build with 1/4" mounts. You might as well ride the horse across the finish line and use the optimal thickness for the mounts.

While I understand the attachment people have to labor already invested in older 3/16" tiles, it needs to be pointed out that replacing what you've already built is going to be an order of magnitude easier when the need to spray-mount and cut new foamcore is eliminated completely from the equation. I mean, it's not like you have to cut out new mounts, right? You're just breaking them off a frame and wrapping a tile around it, and tiles are easy to cut by hand.

If you have a machine cutter, it's at least another order of magnitude easier because you don't even have to cut the tiles out by hand. You also don't even have to replace any walls, roofs, or posts that you've already built--the only thing being replaced are the tiles.

-Mel

Thanks for starting the thread Grump. You beat me to the punch

1/4" for sure. I will gladly give up what I have to go fully 1/4". I cannot find regular foamcore in 1/4" (do they make it?), but I know mightycore comes in 1/4" and that is pricey, but sturdy and, more importantly, a QUARTER INCH!!!!

I can make 3/16" tiles.

It's hard to find 1/4" foam core. Plus the builds are so much cleaner.
So mark me down for 1/4".

Your welcome - I hope that you can get some usable information from this. (I probably shouldn't have put in the Beige option....)

The Auld Grump, the Beige option is the punchline from a mildly dirty joke....

The beige option made me chuckle...

I am not sure what the thickness I have been using here in Oz but I am happy to go the 1/4" assuming it doesn't bump up the price too much.

Graham

Sorry for picking the incredibly helpful "beige" option, but ordering physical products from across the atlantic really isn't an option. Customs makes sure of that.

I voted 1/4", for having nice flat builds, but that isn't exactly my reason, just the closest. I would like 1/4" because it is easier for me to glue (which I am poor at). As for the dozen or two 3/16" I have, it would not be difficult to remove the card-stock or to simply replace.

Same here.

I chose 1/4", I want to make double sided tiles. I was thinking of having my dungeon tiles be the bottom side since the idea of a canals/dungeon tile need is probably low.

I voted 3/16 because it's what I've done, easiest to get, and most likely my preference.

But, the answer partly depends on price. I'm guessing that making everything with the precuts will be a budget-breaker. So I'll get some premade and supplement with ones I cut myself.

So, I'd like to go with 1/4", because if I'm paying for the precut, I'd rather have the cleaner finished product. But I don't think 1/4" will work for me incrementally.

Steve

That is a valid point. Having an idea of price would make the decision easier, or maybe we should start stating at which price-point we would switch from sole use of the WWG bases and when we'd supplement with foam-core cutouts.

Denny - I doubt you are able to answer this but it never hurts to ask - what are we talking here, price wise. For a single large (6x6) base what is the price going to be about? Are we talking cents (I wish), a dollar or two, 5ish, or more?

For me, the time savings it worth spending a buck or two per base, especially given how much foam-core is. Even the 3/16" is more expensive then I would like around town. At ~$8USD for a sheet, which I can get 12 large bases out of, making a single base ~0.67. I'd double that for the convenience, maybe more. Much beyond that the cost is prohibitive and as much as I dislike using the 3/16" I couldn't justify the cost to the better half.

I'm able to get foamcore board at a pretty cheap rate (~3 bucks for a smaller board, from which I can pull about a dozen sheets (by which I mean 1 6x6 and 1 3x6, 3 3x6s, or 6 3x3s), but even the more expensive (and much thinner) board that I started off using was fairly efficient (I could get 20 sheets from that). So, doing it myself, the tiles would run me ~ 35 cents for a 6x6, 20 cents for a 3x6, or 10 cents for a 3x3. If those prices are matched, I would definitely be all over the product. Double that cost (so, 70 cents for a 6x6), I'd consider it, but the material itself would need to be significantly higher quality than what I'm using now. Anything above that, and I'd probably pick up a couple sets for what I'd end up using heavily, but overall would stick to the 3/16ths board I can get from WalMart.
Just my input on the matter.
Magius out.

I can't give you an accurate quote until we get the new cut pattern on the machine and work out the overall machine time vs material costs & profit point. We're also on the hunt for new 1/4" material (we've got 3/16" covered) so it will depend on that as well.

Hopefully we'll have those answers soon.

This. Plus as someone else pointed out, all your walls, posts etc will work fine as is, it's just the floors that would need upgrading.

Does the CnC machine care what the thickness is, offer both!

I would not buy 1/4". I do not have the time to redo what I have made. I would potentially buy 3/16ths to supplement what I have made.

It seems to me to matter very little as the machine will probably not notice the minor thickness difference.

No the CNC doesn't care but finding the right material in 1/4" is more difficult than you might think.

That makes sense. Well sorta, I would expect 1/4" to be easier to find. But I understand how hard it is to find that perfect material sometimes. Still, would both be an option, I figure you'll get a better discount with one variety, but I'd expect better sales with both varieties.

Denny - you missed an opportunity....

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The Auld Grump

I voted 3/16", purely because of future compatibility between foamcore (can't router it on a CNC table) and gatorfoam (which only comes in 3/16").

i vote 1.5 MM and a clip to make tlx compatable with terranclips

oh the mounts could be that glossy dry erase stuff so sticker printed things could be pealed and exchanged and so dry erase markers could be used to draw maps.