Bending 1/2" plastic sheet
Bending 1/2" plastic sheet
(OP)
Hello all.. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience bending 1/2" plastic HDPE in 4X8 sheets. I'm using a home made jobby at the moment, but I'm looking to buy a good quality professional bender. The ones that Laramy make with the "sword" adapter look like they might do the trick nicely. I could put together a break to fit them in. If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate some input. Thanks in advance. Peace.
Bobbydog
Bobbydog






RE: Bending 1/2" plastic sheet
What you need is localised strip heating: we have used an element from a 3 kW fire, stretched and located into suitable hard, heat resistant fibre board groove. Then (in our case) 240 V applied.
The sheet is placed on the heater and turned when one side is hot (or maybe more than once).
Then the sheet is bent through the angle and clamped against a former: cold water soaked towels are used for cooling.
Advantage in using a shallow say 3 mm x 3 mm sawcut on the bend line, to prevent the 'banana' effect due to differential expansion.
Try experimenting with off-cuts.
Ed Clymer
Resinfab & Associates
England
RE: Bending 1/2" plastic sheet
David Chapman
Arizona Electropulsion / Fine-Junque
www.stores.ebay.com/theworldoffinejunque