Reheating Acrylic Sheet After Forming

The only major variable that can affect the forming process is the thickness of the plastic sheet.

Reheating acrylic sheet after forming.

This device can reduce appreciably the labor required for clamping and unclamping sheets preparatory to forming. It is important to provide sufficient clamping of the sheet during the forming process. Then the plastic melt pressure forms the sheet metal similar to sheet metal forming processes by means of plastic melt pressure 7 herein caused constructively between punch and blank holder. Heated plastic sheet from below.

I can t recommend for. Twenty four hours at 176 f 80 c dries most sheets. It can also shorten the time required to transport the heated sheet from the oven to the forming equipment thus minimizing the possibility of cold forming. Release mechanism for hanging plexiglas acrylic sheets in heating ovens.

Be sure that the marked line is above the heating element. B numerical forming simulation of the hybrid part just before bottom dead center. The process involves heating the plastic sheet to a temperature range where it is soft or malleable. Wear gloves as you do this to avoid burning your hands.

A b c fig. To reduce the length of the forming cycle pre dry the sheet in a spare oven and transfer it directly into the forming oven at 176 f 80 c after the drying period. For thicker acrylic you will need to use a metal bar clamped very securely and you may only be able to work with narrow strips of material as your heat source may not be able to heat wider areas of thick material. Thermoforming is a generic term that refers to a process that begins with an extruded sheet of plastic.

Turn the sheet of acrylic over on the heating element every 30 60 seconds in order to avoid damaging it. Acrylic oven baking sheet aluminum foil timer felt for handling the acrylic and to prevent scratches tools for forming tools for forming may include. The vacuum pump can be switched on which will draw air out from under the mould attracting the soft plastic over it. Set the sheet of acrylic across the rests on the strip heater and turn it on.

The vacuum pump might be applied for 15 seconds or more to ensure a high definition form and to allow some time for the plastic to cool. This article uses a sheet about 1 4 thick so all times are about 10 to 15 minutes per step. Modify the timing as necessary. A mold any object shape you can press the acrylic into to give it shape mallet and or a peen for shaping caution i ve only tried this in an electric oven.

Plexiglass or acrylic sheet this system works well for small pieces of plexiglass in thicknesses of up to 1 8 inch. Jim throne consultant in applied plastics engineering handbook 2011.