HackSpace – September 2019

TUTORIAL

Laser-cut cable rack

03

THE STRIP HEATER

Once the basic flat shape is cut out, you’ll

next heat and bend the corners. For that, a strip

heater is ideal. If you don’t have access to a

commercial heater, there are inexpensive units

available as kits. We like the BriskHeat strip heater

element. It comes pre-wired and ready to use. You

build a simple wooden frame for the heater to lie in.

There are more details in the kit’s instructions, but

here’s a useful sketch (above).

04

GETTING BENDY

The strip heater is easy to use. After the

heater has warmed up, place the material to be

formed carefully in position over the strip. The strip

very gently and slowly warms the plastic. You’ll see

a slight deformation in the surface when it’s nearly

ready. Test by gently bending: when ready, the

material will bend easily. Remove the material and

make the desired bend, then hold in position as the

plastic quickly cools into the new shape. Unlike

slump moulding, where the material is heated all

over, the strip heater softens the plastic only where

you’ll actually bend it, so it’s easy to get nice-looking,

accurate corners.

05

MAKING BENDS

To make the slight angle on the tips of the

comb, first soften the plastic and then press down

firmly with a piece of wood as you hold the tips to

make the bend. Hold in place until the plastic cools.

Consider which side of the material to place on

the strip heater. Place the side of the outside of the

corner face down, directly on the heater. The plastic

there has to be softer, to stretch more to make the

A strip heater is ideal. If you don’t have access

to a commercial heater, there are inexpensive

units available as kits

”

”

I used self-adhesive

aluminium foil tape

to line the channel

and to tape down

the fraying edges of

the fibreglass mat.

QUICK TIP

Above

4aRinN the first Iend

Below

;hinR aIout the order `ou need to perMorT `our Iends in

Above

( siTpSe wooden

frame for the heater

to sit in