Experience Bending Acrylic Sheets Using Hot Air Gun

I had completed the task of bemding the A2 Acrylic Sheet to wrap around the 1 / 10 th model of an SUV.

The best temperature setting is 300 degree C. I tried 400 deg C but it led to bubbling and spots. 300 deg C made the Acrylic soft without too much bubble.

Maybe we can reduce the chance of any bubble by lower the gas trmperature. I tried 200 deg C and then 250 deg C but they were too slow, after waiting for a minute and checking temperature. Using the 300 deg C, I need to wait for more than a minute before the acrylic became soft but I cannot see any sign until bubbling starts. Need to check frequently.

The next step will be to use the oven so that the sheets are all evenly heated. Unfortunately, I don't have any mold to press against the sheet. Let us try by using hands to press the Acrylic sheet.

This A2 sheet is damaged because it cracked at a few places. Not sure if we can repair in the molding phase. 1/ 10 th scale is too large for oven use. Next project is to use 1/ 20 th scale. I can put the body on top of the 1 / 24 th scale RC cars. They are cheaper than 1 / 10 th scale.

My SUV design is also suitable because it is narrow and its wheels are completely enclosed. However its wheelbase is shorter to make it easier and cheaper to strengthen the body. Its wheelbase is only 2.5 m, the same as the 1000 kg MyVi. Even the Iriz has a wheelbase of 2.55 m. The MPV Exora, its size is similar to this SUV has a wheelbase of 2.7 m. Tesla Model 3 is even longer at 2.8 m.

So the 1 / 20 th Transparent SUV body can fit on top of a 1/ 24 th scale RC car. For this teason, I have ordered an A3 Acrylic sheet which happens to fit inside my oven. This makes it easy to use my oven.

I also notice that the sharp edges of my SUV is difficult to bend the sheets without any fold. The larger the angles of the bends, the easier the Acrylic bends. This is true for any bendable sheets.. So I have decided to create a paper model for racing. It will have less hull space so is more crammed but it will be lighter, more aerodynamic and more rigid. Not sure if I can reveal its design because it differs a lot compared to the registered Transparent SUV.

I may need to invest more to register the modified design. I shall delay releasing the design so that I have more time to experiment first.

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