Hello Guys, have any of you tried vacuum forming solid surface such as corian.
I would think it is a different process since Corian doesnt get as bendy as other materials.
For those of you who dont know, Corian is a material mostly used for kitchen couter tops. It is made of Acrylic, and mineral filler. It is quite a rigid material but once heated (320ºF) it forms well. It comes in 0.25" and 0.50" thickness
The material is mostly heated on an oven, pretty similar from the ones you guys use, except heat comes from both sides. The better ovens use platen heaters, aluminum plates heated from below and the material comes in intimate contact with the heat from both sides.
When heated the material then is hand placed on wooden molds, sometimes male, sometimes male and female, sometimes just female and held together until it cools.
Better methods use membrane presses to hold the piece inside the mold.
Here is a video of the process.
http://www.airpress.uk.com/videos/membrane_press.WMV
Anyone here has insights as what kind of shapes can be formed? minimum radiuses, corners etc?
Regards
Fernando