Tom M
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| 03 Mar 2010 07:47 PM |
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We are in the process of fabbing thermoforming solid surface panels to millwork. The arc is rather slight. We are noticing that there is a fair amount of cupping to the sheets after setting and cooling. The material is Private Collection. Could there be something in this series that would make the material more susceptible to cupping?
Would anealing the sheets help? It is a real small radius to begin with.
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But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775 |
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Nick Henry
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| 04 Mar 2010 02:50 AM |
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Tom Great question. I too ran into that problem. We just got done making a solid surface sink. I made a 2 part jig (male/female)with the solid surface in the middle and clamped it good. It seemed to cut down on the cupping. But I don't know if that is the right way of doing it. I got the idea from one of Jon/Sterlings videos. Jon should know the proper way of doing this  I do know that if you leave white solid surface in the oven too long it does cook to a light toasty brown color ahh not so good for seaming together. Nick |
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Andy Graves
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| 04 Mar 2010 05:47 AM |
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I have noticed slight cupping on most material. When we do 4" aprons on a radius, we tend to have it cup in in the middle of the 4" piece.
Are you suggesting the same doesn't happen with other material and products. |
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Arnold Trenkner
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| 04 Mar 2010 07:52 AM |
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I think it is in the heating of the material, the edges heating up quicker than the centre of the sheet and also cool down quicker. A male and female mould are the better option not only the material cools down more even it also helps to keep the shape while cooling down. I have build a larger oven and mould all my shapes in the oven, mostly on male moulds only. I heat the material on top of the mould, clamp it down and let it cool down slowly in the oven and that overcomes the cupping. It probably takes a bit longer to process, but a have saved allready on time because I only need one mould. ( I make a lot of one off's ).   sheet size : 52" x 60"     sheet size: 52" x 10'  |
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"Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple."
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ozarniehttp://www.arketique.com |
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Jason Cracker
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Tom M
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| 04 Mar 2010 07:00 PM |
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I took some pics I will try to upload t home. We are using a double form, as we have done for quite a few years now, and the material was still cupping. We resolved the problem somewhat by placing stone slabs over the bottom platten of the oven. Normally not necessary, the more even heat seems to help here.
Arketique - I have been to your website and I am always impressed with your work, but are you seriously telling me that those pics were INSIDE your oven? Crap! how does that thing keep the heat up without breaking the bank.
Nick, do you find that the corners are still cupping using that mold method? |
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But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775 |
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Nick Henry
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| 04 Mar 2010 09:19 PM |
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Tom,
Jason posted two different ways we did the thermofoil. one with a piece of laminate in the jig and one with not. the one with the laminate did cup but it was minimal(maybe 1/32). if you look at the corners in the pics you can see the one without laminate has a gap in the corners. if you use a jig with laminate use a piece of laminate that has a -60,-01 or -58 finish. we used a -77 finish and the pattern of the laminate telegraphed to the solid surface :)
Nick |
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Tom M
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| 04 Mar 2010 09:37 PM |
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Heh, the 77 transferred? That is something I should remember.
1/32" is not bad at all for cupping. |
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But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775 |
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Andy Graves
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| 04 Mar 2010 09:54 PM |
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Impressive oven. Looks like you can walk right into it.
That sink looks pretty straight forward to make. I like that ida. Is it difficult to get the two sides to match the bottom pan? How did you create the bottom where the drain hole is? |
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Jon Olson
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| 05 Mar 2010 12:18 PM |
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I like to use less heat for the private collection and a longer heat time. The best way to avoid cupping is a male and female mold. Unless you have the oven Ark has.
Ark it looks like your using a large (room ) as a convention oven. Is that correct? |
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Operations/Production Manager
Award Winning Solid Surface Fabricators
Columnist-Countertops & Architectural Surfaces Magazine
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978-422-3321 ex 237
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Lets put value back into Countertops
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Tom M
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| 05 Mar 2010 01:48 PM |
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"convention oven", I like that. Jon inadvertently pulls a Yogi Berra.
Amazing for such a Red Sox fan. |
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But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775 |
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Jon Olson
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| 05 Mar 2010 03:10 PM |
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oops. I really need to pay attention to what I type.  |
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Operations/Production Manager
Award Winning Solid Surface Fabricators
Columnist-Countertops & Architectural Surfaces Magazine
2007 ISFA Fabricator of the Year
978-422-3321 ex 237
www.facebook.com/Sterling Surfaces
www.twitter.com/sterlingsurface
www.youtube.com/sterlingsurfaces
Lets put value back into Countertops
Solid Surface the only surface with unlimited design potential |
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Tom M
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| 05 Mar 2010 05:14 PM |
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But it's true, if you think about it.
Big enough for a convention! |
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But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775 |
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Arnold Trenkner
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| 06 Mar 2010 04:54 AM |
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 We like to built big things here in Australia 
The size is 14' x 5' x 6' high, we have a pallet rack inside and use the oven also for post curing for the sheets we manufacture.
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"Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple."
-Albert Einstein
ozarniehttp://www.arketique.com |
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Norm Walters
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| 06 Mar 2010 01:01 PM |
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Posted By Arnold Trenkner on 05 Mar 2010 10:54 PM
We like to built big things here in Australia
The size is 14' x 5' x 6' high, we have a pallet rack inside and use the oven also for post curing for the sheets we manufacture.
Here in the U.S. we have no shortcomings to compensate for.  oh, come on, that was funny.... |
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| www.normwaltersconstruction.com |
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Tom M
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| 06 Mar 2010 04:57 PM |
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"The size is 14' x 5' x 6' high, we have a pallet rack inside and use the oven also for post curing for the sheets we manufacture."
What is the cost per hour to heat that monster? |
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But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775 |
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Andy Graves
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| 07 Mar 2010 01:56 AM |
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So basically you have to heat the oven and then let it cool. Does this add to the cost to use the oven? |
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Arnold Trenkner
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| 08 Mar 2010 12:27 PM |
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It cost me A$ 7.20 (U$ 6.50) per hour, most time I need 2 hours, if it is a more complicated job it takes about 3 hours.
We charge A$100.00 per session, sometimes we thermoform 2 or 3 jobs at the same time depending on the size.
We heat the panel on the mould for about 1 to 11/2 hours than clamp it to the mould and let the oven run for another 1/2 hour and than let the job cool down slowly in the oven for about 1 hour.
We do a lot of translucent jobs and we do not want to shock the panels to much. This is typical for 1/2" material, times vary depending of thickness; we do up to 11/4" thick material. |
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"Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple."
-Albert Einstein
ozarniehttp://www.arketique.com |
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Jon Olson
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| 08 Mar 2010 02:23 PM |
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Arnold. You need a Facebook fan page. Too much good stuff to show. come on man make it happen |
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Operations/Production Manager
Award Winning Solid Surface Fabricators
Columnist-Countertops & Architectural Surfaces Magazine
2007 ISFA Fabricator of the Year
978-422-3321 ex 237
www.facebook.com/Sterling Surfaces
www.twitter.com/sterlingsurface
www.youtube.com/sterlingsurfaces
Lets put value back into Countertops
Solid Surface the only surface with unlimited design potential |
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Arnold Trenkner
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| 09 Mar 2010 06:26 AM |
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Thanks Jon, I will make a facebook fan page soon, I just have to finish my up date for my Website, have to finish the text ( 60 pages left ) before I start something new.  |
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"Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple."
-Albert Einstein
ozarniehttp://www.arketique.com |
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