Bending an Shaping Plexi

[Format _C:]

I want to make a clear plexi box for my 2 * 40 VFD but I have a few questions to get me in the right direction for this project. I know you have to heat the plexi to bend it but thats all I know.I also have a heat gun I bought for shrink tubing so that will work to heat the plexi it says Level I 700 F Level II 920 F is so that should be hot enough right?

1. What thickness of plexi should I use?
2. How do I join it with what kind of glue that leaves no foging or reasidue
3. Any other things I should know about when tying to make my first plexi box?
4. Were's a good place to get plexi or whatever it called cheap (Online or a real store)

The VFD is 7.16 " long and 1" tall and for you wondering about the VFD it's a Noritake CU40025SCPB-U1J 2 * 40 HD44780 LCD Compatble

 

[Darkala]

OK ill answer your questions

1. since all you are holding up is a VFD, 1/16th is fine, anything more than 1/2 thick and its difficult to bend the acrylic.

2. Join it with Methylene-chloride you can simply rub the stuff on the edge you want to join, and hold them together OR you can put the edges together in a simple jig and use a syringe to inject the Methylene-chloride into the joint, it will wick into it and fuse the acrylic. a lot of people say different things about what glue to use, but this is what a professional would use on a show piece. I happen to make these on occasion.

3. pull the plastic off of the plexi before bending it, or it will take forever to get it off, if its paper take it off as well.

4. www.usplastics.com

 

[t0x1k]

Be careful with the heat. Test it first on some scrap plexi to get the right distance and back and forth motion. Too much heat and it'll begin to distort and bubble.

 

[Qtip42]

OK ill answer your questions

1. since all you are holding up is a VFD, 1/16th is fine, anything more than 1/2 thick and its difficult to bend the acrylic.

2. Join it with Methylene-chloride you can simply rub the stuff on the edge you want to join, and hold them together OR you can put the edges together in a simple jig and use a syringe to inject the Methylene-chloride into the joint, it will wick into it and fuse the acrylic. a lot of people say different things about what glue to use, but this is what a professional would use on a show piece. I happen to make these on occasion.

3. pull the plastic off of the plexi before bending it, or it will take forever to get it off, if its paper take it off as well.

4. www.usplastics.com

1.) Have you ever worked with acrylic before? 1/8" is minimum, 1/16" is worthless. 1/4" is tough to bend. 1/2" good luck.

2.) Acrylic cement http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=130&

3.) It aint easy.

4.) www.tapplastics.com

 

[Format _C:]

Nope never worked with plexi/acrylic before. I just want to make a simple box or even something like this which involves a simple bend in the plexi to form a stand. I guess I will try to make a stand as my first project.

 

[Qtip42]

sorry i meant that first question to darkalalala for mentioning 1/16" acrylic as it's so thin you can't do anything useful with it.


That kind of bend you are doing isn't too hard. Make sure you have a clean edge (like a laminate counter) to bend it over. If you got questions, AIM me

 

[Darkala]

1.) Have you ever worked with acrylic before? 1/8" is minimum, 1/16" is worthless. 1/4" is tough to bend. 1/2" good luck.

2.) Acrylic cement http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=130&

3.) It aint easy.

4.) www.tapplastics.com

http://www.tapplastics.com/uploads/pdf/MSDS IPS Weld-On 3.pdf
its just Methylene chloride like i said...

1/16th would be suitable for his situation.

1/4 inch is not hard to bend at all, if you have problems with 1/4 inch you need practice. 5/8ths is a breeze for me. although it takes my heat gun about 15 mins to heat it.

 

[Qtip42]

http://www.tapplastics.com/uploads/pdf/MSDS IPS Weld-On 3.pdf
its just Methylene chloride like i said...

1/16th would be suitable for his situation.

1/4 inch is not hard to bend at all, if you have problems with 1/4 inch you need practice. 5/8ths is a breeze for me. although it takes my heat gun about 15 mins to heat it.

I know the methylene is the same but you're telling a noob some big word and you think he's going to find a place that sells it by that name?

1/16" can't be cemented edge to edge (and be strong)

1/4" isn't hard to bend, it's not for bending with a heat gun like most people use. At that point you need something bigger like an oven which would take 5 minutes instead of 15.


edit: didn't mean to come off rude, just adding to the help.

 

[Darkala]

I know the methylene is the same but you're telling a noob some big word and you think he's going to find a place that sells it by that name?

1/16" can't be cemented edge to edge (and be strong)

1/4" isn't hard to bend, it's not for bending with a heat gun like most people use. At that point you need something bigger like an oven which would take 5 minutes instead of 15.


edit: didn't mean to come off rude, just adding to the help.

hehe well i figured even noobs know about google. yeah i know the 1/16th isnt strong but its just a VFD. no, not rude.. np

 

[Mickey21]

1/16th is good for most any flat covering but I have to agree, not ideal for a box (or anything you are cementing together and will transport). Would probably use 1/8th myself just for added strength. All good information, but yeah 1/2 would be a bitch to bend well, and overkill for just about any case mod. Maybe if you want it to be bullet proof (just kidding do not try that at home).

Edit: Oh yeah, almost forgot, if you need some help going over the things to consider when shaping acrylic, check out the tutorial a good friend and fellow AustinModder "Sheldog" wrote up... Goes step by step on good bends... He is an expert as he bends acrylic for a living at his job making signs and has done some awesome acrylic mods, like the famous Martini Mod (in the tutorial).... No oven necessary as you will see and more precise than a heat gun...

http://www.austinpcmods.com/Plex%20Bending%20Tutorial.htm