Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: matt4949 on October 30, 2013, 01:26:32 pm

Title: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: matt4949 on October 30, 2013, 01:26:32 pm

$5.00 hair dryer from yard sale.
$6.00 (7) electric fence insulaters
$2.44 (2) hinges
$5.00 scrap lumber, nails, what nots and need tos

Title: Re: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: matt4949 on October 31, 2013, 11:59:21 am

Wood cut and hinges installed.
Electric fence insulaters not gonna work to keep the heating element from sagging. Looking for Ideas if any body has one. something heat and electric proof no more than 1/2 " wide and 1/4 " tall.

Title: Re: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: PL1 on October 31, 2013, 02:01:53 pm

Quote from: matt4949 on October 31, 2013, 11:59:21 am

Electric fence insulaters not gonna work to keep the heating element from sagging. Looking for Ideas if any body has one. something heat and electric proof no more than 1/2 " wide and 1/4 " tall.

Metal expands when it heats -- the SR-71 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird#Airframe) would grow several inches longer while flying at top speed.   :o

Have you looked into using a spring like Rodney did for his acrylic bender here (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134263.msg1388762.html#msg1388762).

(http://i.imgur.com/LjkzlFs.jpg)

Another possible option is using some kind of ceramic lining.


Scott

Title: Re: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: matt4949 on October 31, 2013, 02:10:13 pm

Quote from: PL1 on October 31, 2013, 02:01:53 pm

Quote from: matt4949 on October 31, 2013, 11:59:21 am

Electric fence insulaters not gonna work to keep the heating element from sagging. Looking for Ideas if any body has one. something heat and electric proof no more than 1/2 " wide and 1/4 " tall.

Metal expands when it heats -- the SR-71 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird#Airframe) would grow several inches longer while flying at top speed.   :o

Have you looked into using a spring like Rodney did for his acrylic bender here (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134263.msg1388762.html#msg1388762).

(http://i.imgur.com/LjkzlFs.jpg)

Another possible option is using some kind of ceramic lining.


Scott

You know I'm basing almost all of this off of Rodney's build and I failed to mention that in the first post.

 THANK YOU RODNEY.

I dont think spring will work with coil element ( over stretchy type of thingy)
I wish I had easy access to some 1/2" ceramic tiles. I only drive to the city about twice a month.

Title: Re: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: Sarver Systems on October 31, 2013, 03:20:23 pm

Why not put some more supports spaced evenly among the length of the wire?

Title: Re: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: matt4949 on October 31, 2013, 04:08:50 pm

Quote from: Sarver Systems on October 31, 2013, 03:20:23 pm

Why not put some more supports spaced evenly among the length of the wire?

That is exactly the plan. only what to use for supports. I'll post some pics so it's easier to see what's going wrong here

Title: Re: $20 polycarbonate bender
Post by: selfie on October 31, 2013, 08:19:26 pm

You will struggle using a coil element in this type of bender. The smaller line bender I made used the coil element from a bar heater with the ceramic tube so sagging was not an issue.

Take care to heat slowly when line bending polycarbonate as it retains moisture from the manufacturing process and it will boil causing bubbles. If you are looking to fold polycarbonate, not acrylic, you can use a sheet metal break.