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Thermobending the cover

A project log for SATRAN - Satellite Tracking Antenna

Wifi-controlled, azimuth/elevation antenna rotator.

daniel-nikolajsenDaniel Nikolajsen 02/26/2021 at 13:540 Comments

The top cover is made from 3mm ABS, that needs to be bent in a U-shape.  Sounds easy, but it takes quite a lot of effort to give it a perfect shape. Warming it up with a heat gun and bending it over the table is not the way to go. 

This might look like a droid, but its actually my simple but effective drape mold. I put a CNC-cut sheet of plastic on the mold, fasten it and put the entire thing into the oven for a few minutes. When it comes out, I gently bend it around the mold and wait until it sets. 

It works really good, but I think I need to make a negative mold also to get a completely smooth surface and spare my poor hands from the intense heat. 

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