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Grex Science Item 75: How do you do that?
Entered by russ on Tue Nov 13 18:09:10 UTC 2001:

Here's the item for questions about how you do things.

4 responses total.

#1 of 4 by russ on Tue Nov 13 18:11:27 2001:

I've got an application for some clear plastic bubble covers,
which I'd have to custom-make.  How difficult is it to form
Plexiglas into a bubble shape, and how good is the optical
quality?  These would be lightly oversized headlamp covers
which would fit in a conventional oven for heating the
plastic, so no special kilns would be required.

#2 of 4 by gull on Tue Nov 13 21:30:40 2001:

I imagine it might sag into a bubble shape under gravity, if supported 
in the right way while heating.  The result probably wouldn't 
be 'optically perfect', though.  (i.e., when looking through it you'd 
see distortions.)

Otherwise the only thing I can think if is vacuum-forming.  Advanced 
books about model building (especially R/C car models) sometimes have 
chapters on how to make a vacuum-form mold.  The equipment needed isn't 
sophisticated, but making the mold is time consuming.  It's only 
suitable for forming thin sheets of thermoplastic material.

#3 of 4 by tsty on Sun Oct 27 00:40:05 2002:

is there a particular material consideratin? you mentioned only
plexiglass.
 
are there optics/optical considerations?
  
how many? how fast? how durable?

#4 of 4 by tsty on Tue Oct 29 16:08:03 2002:

is this issue dead now?

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