I need to make a plastic vitrine (i.e., display box) to cover something. Due to the nature of the contents, I’m thinking about bending one corner (using the strip heater) and gluing the others. The contents would be viewed from that one corner and I’d rather not have a seam there.
It would seem like I could still route the seam edges and also at the top, including around the bent corner.
I can’t seem to find a bend radius calculator for acrylic but I’m thinking I could get a fairly tight bend.
Anyone have thoughts? Suggestions on how to get a perpendicular bend at the corner that’s not skewed off of the vertical? @jlcourtman, what do you think?
Look for flat pattern or cone maker apps for your phone. I have several do the bend radius also on my phone. There are several available - many will do what you need.
not the same properties in terms spring back, elasticity, etc.
But what the bend radius calculator is account for the material. At least in metal, you want at least 2T for the radius. Heated plastic could probably be tighter but there will be a more pronounced thinning on the outside and more compression on the inside. I would think this might lead to bulging, it does in metal - sort acts like fillet material on the inside radius.
To minimize this you might want to slightly “pull down” when you bend, this will slightly elongate and stretch the material perpendicular to bend line but maybe pull some of compressed material out. But I would think you’d have to have the material overly soft to do this and wouldn’t advise if in a highly visible area. It may increase the optical distort in the area making it noticeable.
