tail light lens material

[Toddr8541]

I don't know if this is the right area for this question.
I want to make some new tail light lens and was wondering what material it should be made out of. i plan on doing a homemade vacuum mold machine to mold the lens.

Can anyone tell me the material used for todays tail lights lens?

thanks
Todd

 

[patprimmer]

Acrylic otherwise known as Poly Methyl MethAcrylater or PMMA is the normal material. They are normally injection moulded when made for OEM, but one off repairs are normally cast from monomer or a syrup of monomer and partly polymerised resin, then fully polymerised after pouring into the mould.

Vacuum can be used to extract air bubbles, BUT reduced pressure also lowers the boiling point and the reaction is exothermic.

Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376 for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm

for site rules

 

[MikeHalloran]

Vacuum forming sheet won't work because you'll never fill the points of all the corner-cube retroreflectors.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[EngMark]

Look at a few existing tail lights.
SAE spec is on the exterior.
Recycling code may / may not be on the exterior, but is easy to find and will quickly lead you to the general material category. In your case though, your material may be more likely to be dictated by your manufacturing method.

Mark