Easily moldable/formable clear ABS?

[tmenyc]

As noted in my post below about my new LMS 7500, I need to make some kind of chip screen to catch the swarf coming off the front, a problem I really never had with the Logan 820 since I wasn't running at these spindle speeds.
I'm trying to research a thin transparent plastic sheet that I can shape to hold in a DI stand, with an arc partly over the front of the chuck and curving down to the chip pan. I do know that ABS is heat-molded, but that's the extent of what I know.
What sources/brands of ABS have you used successfully? How did you mold it?

Many thanks for the help.
Tim

 

[Flyinfool]

Clear ABS is pretty much clear ABS. I have noticed no difference between brands or sources. I find most of mine on Amazon or Ebay.
For forming you need heat to make it soft. If it is compound curves that you are after you would be best off making up a plug and vacuum forming it. You can just use heat to form the compound curves around a form but it is a lot trickier.
If it is a simple curve then make or find something with the right radius and use a heat gun to form it around the bend.

 

[Firstram]

It’s actually very easy. Lay a new piece of 1/2” drywall in a baking sheet, peel the paper off the plastic and warm it up in the oven. 325f is a good place to start. Cut the blank a little oversized because it will shrink a little. Stick with ABS, Acrylic (plexiglass) is not a good candidate for a shield because it shatters! Polycarbonate (Lexan) is extremely difficult to thermoform!

You need to make a simple form to lay the hot plastic in to shape it. It can be made from cardboard and tape or hardware cloth, you don’t need much. The only important thing is to make it a concave shape, plastic always wants to straighten out as it cools! Cover the form with an old cotton pillowcase to create a smooth surface that won’t imprint any surface defects.

 

[ChazzC]

Get thee to the Loc-Line Shopee:

Remove the supplied magnet and replace with a magnetic base, et voila:


Also, you can heat Lexan and bend it:

I used a variable temp heat gun, patience and a HF Bench Top Brake. It would also be possible to bend a mild curve, then wrap with cord to hold the shape until it cooled; however, I'm happy with the flat shield at my lathe.

 

[GeneT45]

Polycarbonate can be bent like sheet metal (with more spring-back, but still very bendable). Drill holes to eliminate stress risers in corners and you can do a lot with it, no heat required. And it's shatter-proof.

GsT

 

[tmenyc]

Chazz, LocLine is a great idea, thanks!
Tim