bending acrylic?

[Teknokid]

im thinking of making a mini case for my water cooling and then just having tubes going into the case for blocks, but
1) i need to find a quick release method without water spillage!
2) i need to know how to bend acrylic.
how do you guys do it? i thought poring boiling water on it to soften it might work.

 

[Ockie]

Heatgun would be ideal to bend acrylic... they are not that expensive either.

 

[Teknokid]

haha. ok. im thinking cheap as poss as its only gonne be a one off.

 

[Michael Daly]

2) i need to know how to bend acrylic.
how do you guys do it?

Most plastics will absorb small amounts of water. If you heat it enough to bend it, that water will boil and form bubbles in the plastic. You have to pre-heat the plastic for a while to dry it at one temperature and then raise the temp to the appropriate level to bend it. I've done this with polycarbonate (PC), but not acrylic. Google "bending acrylic aheet" and see what you find - many manufacturers of plastic sheet put the appropriate data online for those that buy the stuff for manufacturing other stuff.

Just to give you an idea, PC requires at least two hours drying time below boiling temps and then x minutes per inch thickness to heat to boil. You can try bending by skipping the pre-heat, but if you're not lucky, you won't have nice, clear plastic when done.

i thought poring boiling water on it to soften it might work.

That won't likely be hot enough.

 

[Teknokid]

ok maybe a heat gun the or cutting panels.

 

[FallenMystic]

I've heard of this being done in the oven, (unfortunately the site where I saw this has been taken offline).

From what I remember of reading it you need ot set your oven to a relitively low heat, put your plexi on a cookie sheet with some thinish, (1/2 inch) wood pegs under one end of it so you can see it start to bend. Once its started bending then you'll wanna pull it out of the oven, (the OvGlove is best for this,) and form it to your mold/shape.

**disclamer, if you blow up your oven/start the kitchen on fire its not my fault. **

Like I say I haven't tried this but the individual that did it had some good results; do a google search on "Pinhead case mod" and you should see it; it was on the site casemodgod.

good luck.

 

[JinxyBoi]

if the panels are thin enough, or you got some time on your hands, you could use a hair dryer...

also

I've heard of this being done in the oven, (unfortunately the site where I saw this has been taken offline).

A quick google search brought me to a site that said otherwise. "Never heat acrylic in a kitchen oven. Explosive fumes can accumulate inside the oven, and ignite."

 

[forrehmmnd]

A quick google search brought me to a site that said otherwise. "Never heat acrylic in a kitchen oven. Explosive fumes can accumulate inside the oven, and ignite."[/QUOTE]

rofl mc waffle, i could see that happening though. my best bet would be the heat gun

 

[FallenMystic]

Originally Posted by JinxyBoi:
A quick google search brought me to a site that said otherwise. "Never heat acrylic in a kitchen oven. Explosive fumes can accumulate inside the oven, and ignite.

Did that mention what type of oven, (gas, prop, electric etc...)? Like I say I've never tried this but I've read articles where its been done with good results. On the side of saftey I would definately go with heatgun based on just wanting a "bend", though I wouldn't think the heatgun would be a viable soloution if you want to say mold the plexi. Any thoughts on what would work best for that?

 

[Michael Daly]

On the side of saftey I would definately go with heatgun based on just wanting a "bend", though I wouldn't think the heatgun would be a viable soloution if you want to say mold the plexi. Any thoughts on what would work best for that?

If you choose a heat gun, just make sure you get very even heating. Heat both sides, don't stay too long on one spot and heat an area larger than you think you need. If it's cool in one spot, it just might snap.

Don't bother with a hair dryer. It might not get hot enough and it it does, it just might go poof from being too hot, too long. They just aren't made for these tasks.

 

[Teknokid]

ok. lol! im thinking alluminium might be easier now. never mind ill wait tll i have the stuff to work out how to do it (few months yet annoyingly)

 

[synaps3]

heat gun: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=35776

Be sure to work slowly and heat evenly. You don't want bubbles or an uneven bend. Be sure to practice on spare sheets before jumping into it...