Making A Soft Plastic Tray 1

[vcand]

Hello All,

I am currently interested in trying to find a way that I can make a plastic tray at home. I'm sure everyone's seen one, they come in board game boxes and generally they hold the cards, pieces, dice, etc. I do not need mass production only like 1-2 (5 on the high side). I've read a lot of post where they're talking about doing solid plastic molding at home, which I guess is an option but it seems like a waste of materials and add's unneeded weight. It's don't think making the mold would be the problem (as I'm sure I could use clay, plaster, wood, stone, algenate, whatever to make a positive/negative), but I'm not sure where to get the plastic to do this type of thing.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Vincent

 

[patprimmer]

Buy some PVC sheet from a local sheet plastics supplier.

Make a male mould from wood.

Set the oven to the temperature recommended by the sheet supplier. From memory, about 110 to 120 Deg C should do.

Heat the sheet in an oven until it is soft.

Drape the sheet over the mould and press it down by hand. Use a leather riggers glove to protect from heat.



Regards

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Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[TheTick]

Make a CAD model and have a few made on a Zcorp 3D printer. There are many such machines about which are underutilized. Some folks are looking for projects just to keep in practice.

 

[btrueblood]

Cut the shapes you need out of a sheet of poly foam?