How Do You Form Plexiglass with Double Radii?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the techniques and challenges of forming plexiglass (or polycarbonate) with a double radius at a specific location. Participants explore methods of shaping the material, including concerns about thickness, heating, and potential distortion during the process.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about forming plexiglass with a narrow piece and a double radius, specifying dimensions of 6 inches vertical and 14 inches horizontal.
  • Another suggests drape-forming as a method, detailing steps such as constructing a drape form, cutting the material to size, heating it to around 230°F, and using gravity or vacuum assist to shape it.
  • There is a question about the material's thickness, with one participant mentioning a potential thickness of 1/2 inch and expressing concerns about the difficulty of forming such thickness.
  • Some participants discuss the possibility of painting the form to aid in shaping, though there is uncertainty about the compatibility of paint with polycarbonate.
  • One participant expresses concerns about distortion during multiple bends and the cooling process, questioning how the material will behave when reheated and cooled.
  • There is speculation about the need for a negative mold and vacuum process, along with considerations about the cost and feasibility of achieving the desired shape.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for forming plexiglass, with multiple approaches and concerns raised without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the material properties, the effects of thickness on forming, and the implications of cooling and reheating on the final shape.

stevejohnson48
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Is there anybody familiar with the property's of plexiglass with a narrow piece and a double radius ( vertical and horizontal)at the same location with two different dimensioned (vertical 6 inch. horizontal 14 inch.) radius's ∏ Please advise Steve/ primitive drawing attached in hast
 

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You might be able to drape-form it:
  • construct your drape form
  • cut your polycarbonate to correct flat size
  • heat up the flat piece to make soft & pliable...230F or so if I remember correctly
  • move flat heated piece from oven to drape form and let gravity do its thing

If gravity doesn't do its thing, then you could provide a vacuum assist to help pull the heated piece to match the form geometry.
 
tygerdawg said:
You might be able to drape-form it:
  • construct your drape form
  • cut your polycarbonate to correct flat size
  • heat up the flat piece to make soft & pliable...230F or so if I remember correctly
  • move flat heated piece from oven to drape form and let gravity do its thing

If gravity doesn't do its thing, then you could provide a vacuum assist to help pull the heated piece to match the form geometry.
° Polycarbonate ??/ The material is probably going to be 1/2 inch thick ??/ Some one some where said if you paint your form black it will also help in the shape shifting if you will??/ Polycarbonate you can't paint it can you ??/
 
Yes, "polycarbonate" == "Plexiglas". Are you actually thinking about and referring to "acrylic" material?

You never said anything about 1/2" thick material, your sketch doesn't show this. Stock 1/2" thick will be difficult to form. I would guess it would need to be pressed into a form mold.

Painting...not sure. I suppose you could find a suitable primer, then paint over it.
 
Plixglass forming

tygerdawg said:
Yes, "polycarbonate" == "Plexiglas". Are you actually thinking about and referring to "acrylic" material?

You never said anything about 1/2" thick material, your sketch doesn't show this. Stock 1/2" thick will be difficult to form. I would guess it would need to be pressed into a form mold.

Painting...not sure. I suppose you could find a suitable primer, then paint over it.
Sorry typo??/ Late entree 1/4" material looking for something with a tint and I keep thinking about distortion after the first bend and the let off (cooling off reflex's) what's the second bend going to do the first when attempting to reheat for the second bend, dose this stuff (material)want to replicate its original shape on temperature cooling ??/ I'm starting to think the the exact shape is going to have to be a negative mold with a Vacuum in vacuum process at temperature variance and then what's the release shape (re-lacks at ambient Temperature) going to look like at what rate of cooling ??/ is it going to have to be rapidly cooled ??/ Its starting to sound to expensive to litigate the cost??/ and still have several attempts before perfection ??/
 
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