Acrylic Sheet Heat Forming

Upon cooling they will be strong and permanent.

Acrylic sheet heat forming.

Most kitchen ovens do not have accurate temperature control. I have used this technique for years with sizes up to 16 inches in diameter. You can see my other artwork at http. The only major variable that can affect the forming process is the thickness of the plastic sheet.

Preparing hot air gun w. Temperatures can be off as much as 75 f 42 c possibly allowing the acrylic to overheat. For thicker sheets it will take longer and for thinner sheets it will take less time. Modify the timing as necessary.

Since plexiglas acrylic sheet is an excellent insulator the surface exposed to the heater may overheat before the rest of the sheet is hot enough for forming. This article uses a sheet about 1 4 thick so all times are about 10 to 15 minutes per step. Just heat the sheets above 150 degrees f for 2 3 minutes until they turn from translucent to clear using a heat gun. Wear gloves as you do this to avoid burning your hands.

Use long thin 1 inch or so in width test strips to practice your technique and learn how your particular heat source affects your chosen thickness of plastic. Ideal for perspex acrylic plexiglass polycarbonate. Lower molecular weight acrylic forms more easily and with great detail but is more sensitive to differential heating. These gases are potentially explosive if allowed to collect in an unventilated area.

Be sure that the marked line is above the heating element. The rest of the sheet is heated largely by conduction. When they come into contact with the heat source there is likely to be an explosion. To set up your plastic or acrylic sheet to bend simple curves for your miniature and model projects you need to first remove the protective covering from the material you wish to bend.

Acrylic sheet is opaque to most wavelengths in the infrared spectrum the surface exposed to the heater absorbs almost all the energy. Tutorial for how to. And because air is not forcibly circulated in a standard kitchen oven the fumes will accumulate. At this point the pliable polycarbonate sheet is lowered onto the mold.

Work on a smooth glass surface as the heated plastic won t stick to glass. Turn the sheet of acrylic over on the heating element every 30 60 seconds in order to avoid damaging it. The process is straightforward. Bending shaping plastic with hot air gun heat gun.

Once soft mold them into any shape you desire. Higher molecular weight acrylic has better heat strength during forming but is more difficult to form due to its higher melt strength and elastic memory. This is one way i heat form acrylic glass. It has tiny vacuum holes to facilitate the vacuum pump which sucks out the air between the mold and the sheet.

Set the sheet of acrylic across the rests on the strip heater and turn it on.