Hi Michael, thankyou for all the info on the acrylic bender. I needed to bend 700mm of 2mm acrylic but couldn't get any of my power supplies to get it up to temp so I used 2 x 12volt 7Ah batteries I have in a pack for another project. I twisted 4 x 28AWG (same as what you sell) & powered for 40 seconds to get a nice clean bend. I am going to try using a 6V - 90V 15A PWM DC Motor Speed Regulator Controller from Maker Store & reduce the heat output to give a slower more even heat troughout the acrylic. Cheers Peter south of the border.
THIS is one wonderful instructional video ‼️ You have just nailed SO many factors of making a super video! A pleasure to watch.. from beginning to end. 🙏
thats a really nice video!!! I think getting the right "AMPS" might be fiddly for non electrical folks (ie what is collapsing voltage?) as a lot of power adaptors can't put out that kind of amps. I always go BIGGER and then step it down. In my case I used a 19.5V DC, 7A dell laptop power supply and passed it thru a DC-DC step down module from Amazon. I got one with "Wendry DC-DC 5A, 75W" in the name with a digital display for $12. Amazon has a tonne of DC-DC modules that will work, but this one had a built in display with click to toggle between input/output voltage display. I'm pretty much going to build it exactly as you show as my girlfreind wants to bend a tonne of acrylic
Fantastic instructional video Michael, ( I am surprised you have only had about 100 likes, - I guess it is a more specialized type of thing ) But I sure liked it, it is exactly what I was looking for, something thats not too over the top, and yet still shows great functionality and not a quick junky build, well done, thank you.
Great video. I just had a simple perspex case made by a plastic manufacturer, for a BMS for a LifePO4 battery, which cost me almost $200. I will now build this unit, so I can make my own boxes hereafter. Only thing is you didn't mention the size/diameter of the nichrome wire. I will also incorporate a microswitch to cut tbe power to the hot wire when the bend is commenced, to allow it to cool and leave both hands free for managing the job.
That switch sounds like a great quality-of-life improvement - just make sure it's up to handling the current! As for the wire rating - nichrome is most often specified in terms of resistance per linear meter, rather than diameter.
Do you think your plexi bender can be adapted to cut a piece of 48" x 48^ plexi that is 1/8" thick to make a complete cut? I am trying to figure a way to cut a 48" x48" piece of plexi into 4 12" pieces. The edges have to be uniform
Hi Michael, thankyou for all the info on the acrylic bender. I needed to bend 700mm of 2mm acrylic but couldn't get any of my power supplies to get it up to temp so I used 2 x 12volt 7Ah batteries I have in a pack for another project. I twisted 4 x 28AWG (same as what you sell) & powered for 40 seconds to get a nice clean bend. I am going to try using a 6V - 90V 15A PWM DC Motor Speed Regulator Controller from Maker Store & reduce the heat output to give a slower more even heat troughout the acrylic. Cheers Peter south of the border.
THIS is one wonderful instructional video ‼️
You have just nailed SO many factors of making a super video!
A pleasure to watch.. from beginning to end. 🙏
Thanks for your kind words 😀 glad you enjoyed
thats a really nice video!!! I think getting the right "AMPS" might be fiddly for non electrical folks (ie what is collapsing voltage?) as a lot of power adaptors can't put out that kind of amps. I always go BIGGER and then step it down. In my case I used a 19.5V DC, 7A dell laptop power supply and passed it thru a DC-DC step down module from Amazon. I got one with "Wendry DC-DC 5A, 75W" in the name with a digital display for $12. Amazon has a tonne of DC-DC modules that will work, but this one had a built in display with click to toggle between input/output voltage display. I'm pretty much going to build it exactly as you show as my girlfreind wants to bend a tonne of acrylic
Fantastic instructional video Michael, ( I am surprised you have only had about 100 likes, - I guess it is a more specialized type of thing ) But I sure liked it,
it is exactly what I was looking for, something thats not too over the top, and yet still shows great functionality and not a quick junky build, well done, thank you.
This was so so so well done. Bravo!
Awesome, great work! I have been looking for an efficient way to heat bend!
Wonderful, simple solution that works and saves a huge amount of money compared to a strip heater. And works better than a strip heater. Great job
perfect
So practical! Thanks.
ok i will make one today and see how it goes - with stuff i have in garage (did buy a nichrome wire and some hinges)
How did you go in the end?
Great thing! How much power supply I need for 300 cm wire? How to count that?
Great video. I just had a simple perspex case made by a plastic manufacturer, for a BMS for a LifePO4 battery, which cost me almost $200. I will now build this unit, so I can make my own boxes hereafter. Only thing is you didn't mention the size/diameter of the nichrome wire. I will also incorporate a microswitch to cut tbe power to the hot wire when the bend is commenced, to allow it to cool and leave both hands free for managing the job.
That switch sounds like a great quality-of-life improvement - just make sure it's up to handling the current! As for the wire rating - nichrome is most often specified in terms of resistance per linear meter, rather than diameter.
Re the surface - a bit of baking paper would probably be all you need for your current version. It'd prevent scratches and dust...
If I have 12V 4A adapter, can I get smaller gauge wire (20?) and let it heat for longer?
Pls is the right power volt to power 16AWG, 1.2MM AND 2.5M NICHROME WIRE
Do you think your plexi bender can be adapted to cut a piece of 48" x 48^ plexi that is 1/8" thick to make a complete cut? I am trying to figure a way to cut a 48" x48" piece of plexi into 4 12" pieces. The edges have to be uniform
one addition is the drilling of holes for using a clamping mechanism
👏👏👏
Very nice Yes
Are you able to test and confirm if this works with Kydex material?
Some light research shows kydex moulds at 195degC, about 30 degrees hotter than acrylic. I'd say this would work well 👍
will this also work for bending Worbla?
Great idea! What gauge wire are you using?
It's this stuff :) link in the article core-electronics.com.au/nichrome-resistance-wire-4-metre-pack-47669.html
Great thing! How much power supply I need for 200 cm wire? How to count that?