GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/7/13 9:05 a.m.

http://hackaday.com/2013/02/07/heating-bending-and-gluing-to-make-acrylic-enclosures/

I find this especially handy since I was recently thinking of doing something like this for my ITBs airbox (so you can see the trumpets, and hopefully see some variable trumpets move! ), and I've been trying to figure out a solution for a home server with a serious dust problem...custom case tiem?

Conquest351
Conquest351 SuperDork
2/7/13 9:14 a.m.

Looks like a cool way to make custom headlights to get rid of popup headlights... Always wanted to do this on my Conquest...

RossD
RossD UberDork
2/7/13 9:17 a.m.

I first read the tread title as "Nice article on building acrylic bellhousings"

I thought: I gotta see this!

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/7/13 9:23 a.m.

BTW just checked it out, acrylic softens at 80C and melts at 160C, for use in an engine bay that's not a whole lot of wiggle room, I think I could get away with that for an airbox though.

For use in a computer, CPUs and some very hot hard drives can get close to 80C under heavy load and if poorly cooled, but generally it should be no worries.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
2/7/13 9:44 a.m.

Thats cool - I have a very pretty wiring loom in my race car that could use a clear cover. I might give that a try using the lexan side window I need to replace. I imagine lexan and acrylic have similar heat tolerances.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/7/13 9:57 a.m.

Lexan softens at about 150C and melts at around 215C, apart from that I know it can be worked similarly. Looks like a better bet for that airbox.

poopshovel
poopshovel UltimaDork
2/7/13 10:04 a.m.

Oh wow, that looks like E36 M3. Seriously.

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon MegaDork
2/7/13 11:35 a.m.

Somewhere I read about making a Lexan rear glass for a race car by putting a sheet of it on top of the original glass, then sliding the whole mess into a commercial pizza oven.

fasted58
fasted58 UberDork
2/7/13 1:53 p.m.

I need to try that

jere
jere Reader
2/7/13 2:02 p.m.

The vid wouldn't play for me for some reason.

I have played around with acrylic and lexan, made some clear formed headlight lens covers for HID/projectors. Did it in a regular kitchen oven.

A couple of things to watch out for is too much heat or for too long, you get bubbles. Test small pieces for best results. Acrylic is very brittle if exposed to certain chemicals or if reheated, Lexan is a much tougher option and more chemical resistant.

jere
jere Reader
2/7/13 2:05 p.m.

In reply to Curmudgeon:

If that is safety glass that would probably separate or bubble the vinyl glue between the layers. It would be better to use just bend the Lexan it's super ductile. If it really needs formed it would be better to heat the Lex in a frame, take it out and press it over the glass

SVreX
SVreX MegaDork
2/7/13 6:52 p.m.

I read the title as "...building acrylic houses".

I thought one of you hacks had finally come up with a building technique I was unfamiliar with!

fasted58
fasted58 UberDork
2/7/13 7:00 p.m.

In reply to SVreX:

yea, I had that too

... the glass house thing came to mind

moparman76_69
moparman76_69 HalfDork
2/7/13 7:28 p.m.

Yeah, but if your house is acrylic then you can throw all the stones you want.

poopshovel
poopshovel UltimaDork
2/7/13 8:59 p.m.
moparman76_69 wrote: Yeah, but if your house is acrylic then you can throw all the stones you want.

Lolz.

Knurled
Knurled GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
2/7/13 11:07 p.m.
SVreX wrote: I read the title as "...building acrylic houses". I thought one of you hacks had finally come up with a building technique I was unfamiliar with!

People who live in Lexan houses can throw all the stones they want.

Appleseed
Appleseed PowerDork
2/8/13 2:52 a.m.

Soon that house will be scratched to E36 M3. Then they can take off their clothes and run around the house like Nature Boy.

BAMF
BAMF HalfDork
2/8/13 7:03 a.m.

The other cool thing about Lexan (sheet polycarbonate) is that it can be formed using a sheet metal brake. I don't know if the bend is clear or what, but I've been told about cold forming Lexan pretty often.

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury UltimaDork
2/8/13 7:09 a.m.

a heat gun will form lexan wonderfully...Ive done some prjects for car interiors using curved lexan, and a heat gun gets it soft enough to get clear bends, and no bubbles. A toaster oven will work well too.

moparman76_69
moparman76_69 HalfDork
2/8/13 7:12 a.m.
Appleseed wrote: Soon that house will be scratched to E36 M3. Then they can take off their clothes and run around the house like Nature Boy.

Why would you want to run around you house shouting woooooooooooo! Nature boy!?

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