Lightning
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| posted on 4/12/09 at 09:51 PM |
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Cutting ABS sheet
I'm ready to make the dash out of 2.5mm thick carbon fibre look alike ABS sheet. Before hacking it about I thought iit miight be prudent to ask
the best way to cut it. Also is it easy to get a roll on the bottom by heating over a tube???
Steve
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smart51
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| posted on 4/12/09 at 10:03 PM |
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I cut mine by scoring both sides with a stanley knife and bending it. Starting at one end, it broke along the score. I kept bending further and
further along propagating the break.
Then I scraped the end to smooth. You can sand it smoother still.
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RichardK
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| posted on 4/12/09 at 10:19 PM |
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I used metal sheet shears (tin snips), it was the sheet from Europa or something like that.
The shears cut it very well and the sheet didn't shatter or splinter at all.
I would try a corner on yours though!
Cheers
Rich
[Edited on 5/12/09 by RichardK]
Gallery updated 11/01/2011
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austin man
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| posted on 4/12/09 at 11:32 PM |
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Not sure whether it will have the same properties as polycarb if so you can cut it with a jigsaw I would advise using an air line to keep the blade
cool though as it may try to weld itself back together
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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trextr7monkey
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| posted on 4/12/09 at 11:38 PM |
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We use bandsaw / jigsaw, you need to keep protective film in place to prevent marks.
It won't shatter or chip as it contains rubber, it can melt back together again if there's any great heat about.
If rolling over a tube best to have a mate handy and use a couple of hot air guns on low setting, progressively warm up and bend and hold in position,
we use a strip of wood and some ratchet type clamps, warm from both sides along the line you want to bend, don't get it too hot in any
particular spot as it will buble and blister - if you get the smell of rubber it is getting too hot. Go and make a cupof tea before you cock it all up
, come back when it has cooled a bit 
We use it a lot with kids in the workshops as it is a very forgiving material , you can file and draw file and polish edges with wet and dry. We have
used it d for bumper over riders dash boards, mud flap type spats, arch extensions, battery boxes and covers (vac formed) door liners etc very useful
stuff
hth
good luck
Mike
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14016102@N00/ (cut and paste this dodgey link)
Our most recent pics are here:
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/trextr7monkey/
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Peteff
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| posted on 4/12/09 at 11:45 PM |
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I cut mine with my jig saw. It runs so slow you can count the strokes and is ideal for the job
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Nash
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| posted on 5/12/09 at 12:36 AM |
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Tin snips and hole cutter on a drill. No issues at all.
It's What You Do Next That Counts.
Build It, Buy It, Drive It:
Southern Kit Car Club
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dave r
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| posted on 5/12/09 at 09:56 AM |
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be warned it does expand a bit when out in the sun
i had to alter mine a bit where it was fixed, as it buldged a bit between fixings
you can bend it, the hardest part is getting even heat if it wont fit in the oven... i bent a bit of mine on a piece of steel that i was heating from
underneath
took 4 attempts to get 2 usable peices 18" long
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 5/12/09 at 01:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by dave r
be warned it does expand a bit when out in the sun...........
You will have to plan for this with slightly oversize fixing holes, maybe the centers not, but the ones further away so it is kind of floating
sidewayas to accomodate expansiona.
AA
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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