bending styrene?? tips please
Discussion
steveo3002 said:
ive been using a hot air gun , can you expand on your method ?
like i say so far it seems to be heat heat heat..nothing happening then flop and its melted /gone too soft and out of shape
i have a flat 2mm panel that i want to curl up at one end
I usually try to make a jig of the correct shape, lay the plastic on it and heat it until it drops into whatever shape I want. Not done it often.like i say so far it seems to be heat heat heat..nothing happening then flop and its melted /gone too soft and out of shape
i have a flat 2mm panel that i want to curl up at one end
Why not try gettting some metal plate, putting a radius on the edge and then clamping the plastic on top, with the overhang over the radius, then just run the heat gun over the overhanging edge. Eventually it will flop down over the radius.
There are a number of techniques each one dependant on the material, the size and thickness of the material and if the bend is to be made free-form or uniform.
For example for a uniform shape on a piece of styrene say 5-10cm long I would use a former (could be wood, plaster, metal etc) which I would tape along the styrene length. The former will sit either inside the bend or outside depending on whether it's a male or female mould.
Then when heat is applied slowly bend the styrene around or into the former - it can take any number of heat applications - until the styrene conforms to the shape of the former.
Depending on the thickness and type of styrene then heat can be applied as suggested above, using hot water or if thin enough, applied carefully and in small amounts, solvent can be used.
Patience is the key don't try to do it in one go.
ETA, Too late!
For example for a uniform shape on a piece of styrene say 5-10cm long I would use a former (could be wood, plaster, metal etc) which I would tape along the styrene length. The former will sit either inside the bend or outside depending on whether it's a male or female mould.
Then when heat is applied slowly bend the styrene around or into the former - it can take any number of heat applications - until the styrene conforms to the shape of the former.
Depending on the thickness and type of styrene then heat can be applied as suggested above, using hot water or if thin enough, applied carefully and in small amounts, solvent can be used.
Patience is the key don't try to do it in one go.
ETA, Too late!
dr_gn said:
DieselGriff said:
Depending on the thickness and type of styrene then heat can be applied as suggested above, using hot water or if thin enough, applied carefully and in small amounts, solvent can be used.
Could also try lightly scoring the plastic on tight radii.Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff