Trupan for Atlanta Botters

[ed_conley]

For those metro Atlanta guys who attended the Marietta Camp, the Trupan is in. You can contact Bert at Peachstate Lumber 770-428-3622. Or, you can pick it up at my place if you don't want to stop by there. I just cut some 1/2" and 3/4" today and it cuts very nicely.

[beacon14]

I have a customer who wants me to make a mold for vacuum forming using Trupan glued up to 2" thick, but he needs to be able to draw a vacuum through it. He's using it to form plastic packaging. Is this a suitable use for trupan?

[Brady Watson]

Depending on the shape, the back of the Turpan could be drilled in several places (leaving 1/2" skin beneath mold portion) to allow vacuum to pull thru the face of the mold. Generally speaking, when it comes to vacuumforming, a grid or platen sits underneath the mold to allow vacuum to get under the part.

-Brady

[btk]

David, I get Trupan in 1.375" thick sheets here in NYC and I am pretty sure that they also offer in 2" so perhaps you want to check with your local supplier before doing using glue which might restrict the air flow (That is assumiing that they will be trying to draw air through the Trupan as opposed to drilling series of holes)

Brian

[Brady Watson]

Brian,
Good point...I didn't even think of the glue. Yes, they do sell 2" up near you...I think Atlantic Plywood has it, but only certain locations.

-B

[beacon14]

wow - hadn't thought about the glue line, or in this case TWO glue lines. Our local supplier did us a favor by bringing in 1/2" and 3/4" board so that's what I have to work with, and of course my customer needs it right away so no time to bring in anything else. I think I'll make him two samples, one with the back drilled out like swiss cheese and one not, and see if one or both work. May try to get him to go with 1.5" to eliminate one glue line.

Thanks guys you may have saved me some headaches.

[btk]

David,
Depending on the shape of the item that you are cutting, perhaps you do not have to glue the entire surface. Can just glue the perimeter and allow air to flow through the middle region (you will have to skim the surface of each sheet before gluing)
I glue up a lot of material (when desired material is not available in large formats), and while I am not worried about air flow through, I could do without the seems (and the time that goes with concealing them).

Good Luck,
Brian

6662

[beacon14]

The client approved the 1.5" thickness, and as the routed areas are .8 deep about 90% of the glue line will be routed away anyway. He says he'll drill the holes in the back if he needs them.