Full Version: Bending Acrylic Plaque

From: Larry (CELESTIALPROD) [#1]
 17 Mar 2007
To: ALL

I can't seem to source large (approx 10" wide x 12" high x 3/8" thick) freestanding/curved acrylic plaques. Smaller ones with a beveled edge exist and are typically used as picture frames.
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Has anyone out there devised a consistent method/jig for curving acrylic sheets/large flat plaques? Might laying the flat plaque on a curved metal jig in an oven raised to the right temp do the trick?
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I would prefer to source them from a manufacturer since I will need approximately 500 per year.

From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2]
 17 Mar 2007
To: Larry (CELESTIALPROD) [#1] 17 Mar 2007

Acrylic strip heaters, such as the one below, are often used to heat a line on a piece of acrylic and then you can easily bend the sheet on that line. For consistancy you could build a form to use to keep the band at the right angle.

http://www.delviesplastics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=DP&Category_Code=Strip_heaters

For that kind of quantity, if it's firm, you could probably contact an awards manufacturer or plastics supplier about making and bending them for you.

From: Larry (CELESTIALPROD) [#3]
 17 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2] 17 Mar 2007

A strip heater would work for a narrow bend line. What about an over the entire piece curving from flat to a curve?

From: deLazer [#4]
 17 Mar 2007
To: Larry (CELESTIALPROD) [#3] Unread

I do quite a bit of heating both acrylic and pvc into curves-can even blow heated plexi into a hemisphere. Typically I would cut twp peices of 3/4'' plywood into a concave radius that I want the plexi to be bent to. Put a few slats between the two (or many if the jig is large) and skin the top surface with 1/8" plywood- this will conform to the curve easily. Then I build simple walls and a roof to make it boxed in. Lay a piece of Kraft paper on surface and lay the plexi straight on the jig. I use a kerosene blaster type heater to heat everything, but a small jig like this could be placed in an oven without building walls. Using any heat that places the plexi in an oven-like environment will make the plexi relax to the radius. Once the plexi is curved let it cool on its own. Cast plexi works much better for heating than extruded does. I may have made this sound more complicated than it is -you basically heat the plexi and it forms to whatever gravity pulls it to.

From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#5]
 17 Mar 2007
To: Larry (CELESTIALPROD) [#3] Unread

Larry,

It is obvious it can be done.

http://www.lucitetombstones.com/curved_plaques.htm

http://www.graphicice.com/index.php/action/prodspec/itemID/982116716

From: BobT [#6]
 18 Mar 2007
To: ALL

I have thermoformed a bunch of Pharmaceutical displays (6mm Cast Acrylic) using a form much like that described above. I used my kitchen oven (yes, made my wife madder than hell, until I told her how much money was involved) set at 225 degrees. It worked pretty slick. Just don't bake any cakes for a day or two.
Bob

From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#7]
 18 Mar 2007
To: Larry (CELESTIALPROD) [#3] Unread

Larry,

I have a friend who has a huge kiln. He creates curved architectural glass for commercial and high-end residential windows. He uses metal forms in a half-round shape at a radius to match specs. He places the sheet glass on the form and cranks up the heat. The glass sags and takes the shape of the form. This process would likely work just as well with acrylic, in spite of the major difference in their properties.

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