Heat Shaping Acrylic Sheets

Attempting to create a smaller radius would snap the sheet.

Heat shaping acrylic sheets. This article uses a sheet about 1 4 thick so all times are about 10 to 15 minutes per step. Acrylic is a wonderful plastic that can be used for all sorts of different projects. 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. For instance the smallest complete circle you could form with a sheet of plexiglass 1 32 inch thick would have a radius of 5 6 inches.

Cut out different shapes from the sheet. The only major variable that can affect the forming process is the thickness of the plastic sheet. Ideal for perspex acrylic plexiglass polycarbonate. Preparing hot air gun w.

Hold the sheet in position for a few minutes allowing it to cool and re harden. Acrylic oven baking sheet aluminum foil timer felt for handling the acrylic and to prevent scratches tools for forming tools for forming may include. Modify the timing as necessary. Tutorial for how to.

Force the plexiglass into the desired shape. 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. 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. The rate of radiant heat input can be decreased but that would result in a longer heating cycle.

For thicker sheets it will take longer and for thinner sheets it will take less time. Strong reusable our sheets can be re melted again and again so you can build reshape and add to your work as often as needed. Plexiglass or acrylic sheet this system works well for small pieces of plexiglass in thicknesses of up to 1 8 inch. It comes in both transparent and colored options and can be machined laser cut or heated and bent into almost any shape.

This phenomenon is relatively common in thicker sheet. Heat create melt our plastic sheets with heat gun 150f and mold to any shape you like by using your hands or using tools. Bending shaping plastic with hot air gun heat gun. Continue to direct the heat jet back and forth along the bend line until the acrylic sheet fits into the form at the correct angle.

Acrylic comes in two varieties.