Bending & Thermoforming
Line bending, drape forming and 3D contour work — curves that would need tooling in other materials.
Both materials soften predictably with heat, which makes curved and folded parts far cheaper in plastic than in glass or metal. We line bend, drape form and produce 3D contour parts to drawing.
One point worth knowing before you specify: polycarbonate must be dried before forming. It absorbs moisture from the air, and forming undried sheet produces bubbles and silvery streaks that cannot be repaired afterwards.
Specification
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Line bending | Single and multiple folds, sharp internal radius |
| Drape forming | Curves and arcs over a former |
| 3D contour forming | Compound curvature, produced on our CNC centres |
| Cold curving | Solid PC to approx. 150× thickness; multiwall to 175× |
| Pre-drying | Polycarbonate dried before forming as standard |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm on machined features |
Typical applications
- Curved machine guards and covers
- Formed display stands and retail fixtures
- Point-of-sale holders and dispensers
- Equipment housings and enclosures
- Curved signage and architectural features
Minimum order and lead time
This grade ships from 100 m² or 1 tonne — a trial pallet, not a full container. Standard sizes and stock colours run in 7–10 days; non-standard thickness or width in 12–18 days; add 3–7 days for CNC cut-to-size work. Quoted in USD on FOB, CIF or DDP terms. Full detail on the MOQ, lead time & shipping page.
Questions buyers ask
Can you form to my 3D CAD model?
Yes. Send STEP or IGES and we will confirm what is achievable — some geometry needs tooling, which we will quote separately rather than hiding in the part price.
Why does formed polycarbonate sometimes bubble?
Undried sheet. Polycarbonate absorbs atmospheric moisture, which turns to steam at forming temperature. We pre-dry as standard; a supplier who does not will produce streaked parts.
Is cold curving cheaper than thermoforming?
Much cheaper, since there is no heat, tooling or forming time — but it is limited to gentle single-axis curves. Anything tighter or compound needs forming.