Vacuum Form - What is the thickest acrylic for it to form around a mold?

3D Fabrication
#1

Hi,

I’m unfamiliar with this tool so I don’t know if my question is weird? I need to bend a piece of acrylic around an object. Can 1/4" acrylic work? Or worst case 1/8" ??

I looked on the Wiki but didn’t find any insight there.

Thanks so much!

#2

I’ll try to ask Capt later. He’s not on Talk and I’m down the hall. You might google the machine we’ve got and see if the manual gives any clues.

1 Like
#3

It did.

Based on the model number listed on the wiki, the manufacturer’s spec sheet says max thickness is 6mm (i.e., nearly 1/4").

I updated the wiki to link to the spec sheet.

EDIT:

Thank you for looking on the wiki! Sorry it wasn’t there, but the fact that people actually look at it makes doing it worthwhile.

3 Likes
#4

That sounds a bit sketchy if you ask me. @Chris_Wischkowsky, didn’t you attempt to use some thicker with subpar results? I seem to remember that but I could be completely wrong.

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#5

What sort of “bend” are you wanting to do?

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#6

Not exactly this but Something like this

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#7

It should work for that. The heater should soften the acrylic enough. You don’t really need the vacuum even, though it would hold the acrylic in place as it cools.

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#8

I tried doing it by hand. It didn’t go so well. I’m hoping I can salvage it. It’s all crooked.

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#9

I bet there are plastics places around town that have acrylic bending machines that might better suit your needs. If you had a one-off need as opposed to mass production, that might be a better way to go. Flat pieces can be superglued on to the bent ones as needed.

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#10

We have an acrylic bender.

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#11

We do? Other than the vacuum form???

I need to find it. Where is it? I tried doing it by hand with a torch… It isn’t uniform so I need to find a better way.

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#12

In the PIG sig area. Its under one of the tables.

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#13

Acrylic is usually solvent welded rather than super glued.

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#14

If you need help on this I used to fabricate acrylic boxes for a living.

6 Likes
#15

Not when I do it!

:crazy_face:

#16

The acrylic bender is a hot wire. It takes a little while to soften.

Acrylic has form memory. As it cools, it wants to return to it’s former shape. It needs to be held/clamped in place.

@dallasmagna formed a motorcycle wind shield using an oven to soften the acrylic.