Replies

1. 
   Ralph_Wicklund | Mar 03, 2001 08:39am | #1

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   My experience with bending plexi is limited to bending tubes used to deliver materials to assembly machines. We used a long spring inside the tube to prevent kinking and preserve the original inside diameter and a hand held heat gun to apply even heat around the tube. As far as I can recall, this being 30 years ago, the plexi maintained its original clarity, unless we got careless.

   My suggestion would be to get a piece of the product you plan to use, build your form, clamp one side and use a heat lamp to slowly heat the material until it can easily conform to the form. Then clamp the other side. Build the form to allow for springback (how much is anyones guess). Once the material is fitted to the form and the tension appears to be gone, remove the heat source and let it cool down. Then let us know the results.

   Be adventurous. Just do it. You could also call local plastic fabricators who do this all the time and get the info from the horses mouth.

1. 
   Chris_Robb | Mar 03, 2001 02:39pm | #2

   *Thanks Ralph, heat gun/lamp seems more controlable. But how do I get a horse to stand there long enough to clamp it?

1. 
   Joseph_Fusco | Mar 03, 2001 02:56pm | #3

   *Chris,

   I don't know what thickness of plexi you wish to bend, but most 1/8", 1/4" stuffs bends pretty easily. If you have a large radius it might be no trouble to bend those thickness at all.

   View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle

1. 
   Ron_Budgell | Mar 03, 2001 03:44pm | #4

   *Thinner polycarbonate sheet (Lexan) is often sold from rolls. With 1/8" or 3/16", you can get some pretty tight radii easily. Just do it slowly. Ron

1. 
   Joe_Hennessey | Mar 03, 2001 06:00pm | #5

   *Chris, how bout glass? Joe Hhttp://www.pecoglassbending.com/

2. 
   Chris_Robb | Mar 03, 2001 06:00pm | #6

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   I'm trying to build a curved display case for antique tea pots. Does anyone know how to bend lexan or plexi-glass in a slight radius? I thought about making a die and then with heat from a rosebud torch, clamp the lexan until it fits the radius I need, but don't know if the plastic will distort to the point of obscuring clear view? Anyone?