Shaping Acrylic Sheets

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees f.

Shaping acrylic sheets.

Have a mold ready to use. Diy soda fountain machine. The size shape and optical requirements of the formed. Gently rub it with any smooth object and it will pop right off.

Most scale models won t need bends in acrylic more than 1 16 inch thick. Things you ll need carpenter s square protractor 2 by 6 boards 3 inch wood screws screwdriver paint stripping heating gun hard straight edge fine tip permanent marker table saw safety gloves. Don t touch without the felt. Once soft mold them into any shape you desire.

Measure the inside of your oven. The acrylic might stick to the foil. For straight cuts in acrylic a plastic scoring blade can be used. Make adjustments appropriate to the specifications of your project.

Heat for approximately five minutes. Work on a smooth glass surface as the heated plastic won t stick to glass. Upon cooling they will be strong and permanent. The large pan prevents the plexiglass from coming into contact with the hot rack which can distort the plexiglass due to uneven heating.

Place a plexiglass sheet on large pan and place on the middle oven rack. If you re working larger you will probably want leather safety gloves. With a straightedge as a guide pull the blade toward you leaving a score mark. Just heat the sheets above 150 degrees f for 2 3 minutes until they turn from translucent to clear using a heat gun.

As the material cools it stiffens and retains the shape to which it has been formed. As you ll need to put the plastic sheet into the oven this is your size limitation. Score the acrylic several more times along the same line then place the acrylic on the edge of the table and use light quick pressure to snap the piece in two. The acrylic at this stage will take on any shape including your finger prints.

The spruce lesley shepherd you can easily create curves and bends in flat acrylic or plexiglass sheets for your models or miniatures. The example here is the outside of a mold but it can work inside too. The tutorial which follows shows how you can make bends with a simple jig and common heat sources.