Who's made their own bodies??

[WTFChuck]

Originally Posted by Drew

If you watch panabas video he winds up getting a wrinkle in the lexan, if instead of a vacuum box below the mold you had a pressure box on top with an air compressor you can push harder on the lexan before it cools.

How is blowing high pressure cold air on something, during the cooling process, going to do anything but accelerate the cooling/wrinkling process?

[LeMieux]

Originally Posted by Drew

If you watch panabas video he winds up getting a wrinkle in the lexan, if instead of a vacuum box below the mold you had a pressure box on top with an air compressor you can push harder on the lexan before it cools.

They use a similar method when they make those red plastic gas jugs. They make a molten "baloon" with the plastic, put it into the mold, and then fill the "baloon" with air. I like the idea of using air pressure with lexan, especially the thicker stuff it'd be nice to have higher pressures.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by WTFChuck

How is blowing high pressure cold air on something, during the cooling process, going to do anything but accelerate the cooling/wrinkling process?

The air would accelerate the cooling but the increase in force pushing the lexan into the form would negate any ill effects from this. The "hood" you would have to have over the lexan to allow you to pressurize it would be heated at the same time and reduce the effects of the air cooling the lexan.

Being that its at a higher pressure you could also work with lexan at lower temperatures or like LeMieux said, thicker sheets.

[WTFChuck]

Originally Posted by Drew

The air would accelerate the cooling but the increase in force pushing the lexan into the form would negate any ill effects from this. The "hood" you would have to have over the lexan to allow you to pressurize it would be heated at the same time and reduce the effects of the air cooling the lexan.

Being that its at a higher pressure you could also work with lexan at lower temperatures or like LeMieux said, thicker sheets.

Well then, you being the expert and all, perhaps you should be spending less time on here and more time informing the vacuum forming industry how wrong they've been all these years.

[elk]

I did basic vacu-forming back
in college for the SAE team. To get the subtle details needed from your negative, the poly has to be fairly hot and pliable. When it get this malleable, you don't need high pressures to form it, hence why most basic forming is done by vacuum.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by WTFChuck

Well then, you being the expert and all, perhaps you should be spending less time on here and more time informing the vacuum forming industry how wrong they've been all these years.

There's no need to get all butt-hurt when I reply to something you say. I was merely posing an alternative. I did not say it was more correct or that vacuum forming was wrong. Nor did I say I was an expert on vacuum forming. I do consider myself quite savvy with manufacturing processes though.

[WTFChuck]

Originally Posted by Drew

I do consider myself quite savvy with manufacturing processes though.

So, in other words, in things OTHER than vacuum forming. Got It!

Originally Posted by elk

I did basic vacu-forming back
in college for the SAE team. To get the subtle details needed from your negative, the poly has to be fairly hot and pliable. When it get this malleable, you don't need high pressures to form it, hence why most basic forming is done by vacuum.

[Baja Bandido]

Come on guys, lets stay on track. Good info helps everyone. Thank you.

Chris

[barndog]

hey panaba453 i watched you video when i started out also i make a body for the baja 5t team chase cage.i made the molds and i have a vacuum former do the forming for me.here is a pictire it is a four piece body.

[kman8]

Originally Posted by Baja Bandido

Thanks Panaba! I'd definitely love to talk to you about it. I have two goals. Make a few Bronco bodies and possibly make a Robby Gordon Hummer Dakar body using Proline's Militia form but modifying the back. Have you tried creating a body buck without using an existing body? If so do you use clay?

Chris

If you do a Gordon Hummer i'll take two.

[DirtJumper14]

I make my own undertrays with vacuum forming. It takes lots of time and patience. Getting your plastic temp right and vacuum pressure right will take some figuring out depending on setup. Then you have to make sure the angles of the molds allow for easy removal. I started with cheap 0.02" lexan to get the molds right and then used thicker lexan for final product. A clean work environment is key as well. Any dust, hair or anything on the mold or plastic will leave imperfections as well.

This is my first one I made for the scrt10. Have about 4 cars finished and working on scte as we speak.

[panaba453]

See it can be done. Great work

[insanityxj]

That is one sweet looking under tray, I like the screen for air flow.

[DirtJumper14]

Thanks. Yeah I wanted airflow as my main goal. The way I have the front "fender" areas high allows me to have that big hole up front. That screen would stay clean and would rarely have anything on it. Kept mud, rocks, twigs and such out but would still get dusty.

The process is still time consuming. Would love to have my own cnc to cut out the molds so they were absolutely perfect.

[drunkenmugsy]

Is there a huge weight difference between a .03 body and a .08? Sure there is, but how much? What thickness are the Jconcepts bodies? Noob question I know but I am interested in making a thick body. Maybe it will save some parts/bodies while I learn to finesse my driving more.

[WTFChuck]

Originally Posted by drunkenmugsy

Is there a huge weight difference between a .03 body and a .08? Sure there is, but how much? What thickness are the Jconcepts bodies? Noob question I know but I am interested in making a thick body. Maybe it will save some parts/bodies while I learn to finesse my driving more.

Of course, way more than double.
The problem with really thick bodies, is that instead of flexing they end up cracking easier - and that's the reason we use lexan is because it retains greater flexibility when it's thinned out compared to other plastics.
Frankly, you just need to accept the fact that while you're learning to "finesse" your driving you're going to go through a few bodies. Just slow down, instead of expecting the truck (or truck body) to absorb all the crash damage.