Spare a moment to look around in your day-to-day life and, the chances are, you will notice quite a lot of items that are constructed from plastic. This robust and durable material has changed the world in so many different ways and the process of acrylic fabrication is now used to create an almost infinite number of different products – from the plastic bottle you drank from at breakfast to the keyboard you are typing on right now. It might be a technical-sounding term, but in reality, acrylic fabrication is a fairly simple process and it can be used to make just about everything.
What is Acrylic Fabrication?
The process of acrylic fabrication is very similar to that of metal fabrication. Essentially, it involves heating up a sheet of acrylic and transforming it into a completely different shape or form. Acrylic is a thermoplastic and, if uniform heat is applied to its surface, it starts to become very soft and supple. Eventually, it will melt into a molten liquid and this liquid can be subsequently poured into a mould of your choosing. The molten acrylic will move into all the different crooks and contours of the mould, effectively taking its shape and size and setting into place as it cools.
A combination of expert knowledge and advanced technology is used to achieve acrylic fabrication and the process often involves a wide range of technical operations – such as compounding, extrusion, welding, lamination, and forming. Different tools can be used to create different effects and, when it comes to this type of plastic fabrication, a company’s capability is limited only by their equipment and the level of knowledge and experience demonstrated by their staff.
What are the Main Advantages of Acrylic?
Acrylic is suitable for a vast range of day-to-day applications and it is often used as an effective alternative to glass. It has the same transparent crystal-clear appearance; however, it is much lighter and much easier to assemble and transport. Safety is the second obvious benefit of this tough and durable material, as it demonstrates fantastic impact-resistant properties, and in certain thicknesses, it is highly unlikely to break or shatter. Acrylic is also very versatile. It can be moulded into pretty much every shape and size that you could ever want or need, and it can be subsequently customised to your liking. Add colours, lighting, patterns, contours, or unusual effects, the choice is yours. When it comes to the process of acrylic fabrication, the possibilities are quite literally endless.
Acrylic Fabrication at Talbot Designs
Here at Talbot Designs, it’s fair to say, acrylic plastic fabrication is our speciality. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than taking somebody’s vision, turning it into reality, and watching the finished acrylic product leave our factory. By using advanced technology and equipment and specialist plastic fabrication techniques, we can handle everything from small custom products to complex acrylic designs, and over the years we have worked on a very diverse range of fabrication projects.
Our motto and guiding principle is that acrylic plastic fabrication is “limited only by imagination” and, in one of our latest projects, this motto was certainly put to the test. In conjunction with bespoke stage manufacturer, ShowMachine Systems, we were asked to create an acrylic piano for the DJ Kygo 2018 World Tour. This was by far our most challenging acrylic fabrication project to date. The piano needed to be constructed from 25mm acrylic sheets – which are notoriously difficult to fabricate – and we were given just four weeks to complete the project. However, by combining our expert craftsmanship with advanced fabrication techniques, we succeeded – producing the acrylic piano to exact specification and ensuring it was ready to use two days ahead of schedule.
Talbot Designs is one of the UK’s leading experts in the field of acrylic fabrication and we are very proud of both our superior knowledge and innovative nature. Our factory is fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment, such as large ovens, dome blowers, and drape-formers and we are able to perform both standard and specialist acrylic fabrication techniques, such as vacuum forming and CNC machining. We use the best materials and the best processes, and we always create the best results.
Contact the Acrylic Fabrication Specialists Today!
If you would like to find out more about acrylic fabrication, or the acrylic fabrication services currently available at Talbot Designs, please feel free to get in touch at any time. Collectively, our team of staff have acquired over 250 years’ experience in this area and they demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding with respect to specialist plastic fabrication techniques. Perhaps you have a question about the process of acrylic fabrication itself or maybe you’re ready to request a quote or place an order. We’re always on hand and happy to help with your enquiries.
Whether you want to create a one-off unique acrylic product, or you’d like to start a regular production line, we can offer tailored advice and guidance on the best acrylic fabrication service for you and your project requirements. We are incredibly passionate about what we do and we’re always on the look-out for a new and exciting challenge. So why not give us a call on 020 8346 8515 or drop us a message using the online contact form. Tell us exactly what you have in mind and, the chances are, we will be able to make your idea for a new acrylic fabrication product a reality.