Thick Gauge Vacuum Forming of Skid Plates in Laboratory Instruments from 3 mm HIPS

Vacuum formed skid plates are used across laboratory instruments because they can be produced without the tooling spend of injection moulding and without the weight of sheet metal. This page covers how 3 mm HIPS sheet is formed for laboratory instruments, what tolerances are realistic, and what has to be on the drawing before tooling starts.

The route below is the one used for most of the skid plates shipped from this plant: sheet is heated on the forming machine, drawn over an aluminium or composite mould, cooled on a jig, then trimmed on a 5-axis router. For skid plates the sheet gauge is selected from the load case rather than from habit, and HIPS is the material most often specified for this combination.

Typical specification

Where these parts are used

• instrument covers for laboratory instruments
• analyser housings for laboratory instruments
• fume hood liners for laboratory instruments
• sample tray systems for laboratory instruments
• skid plates in general laboratory instruments builds

How the part is made

1. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
2. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
3. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
4. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
5. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
6. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
7. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.

Material notes: HIPS

HIPS is the low cost route for indoor liners and disposable trays where impact strength is not critical.

Design tips for this part

• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss
• keep a draft angle of at least 3 degrees on vertical walls so the part releases cleanly
• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• add ribs or returns instead of increasing sheet thickness to save weight and cycle time
• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface

Quality and inspection

Moulds, trim fixtures and programmes are stored against the part number, so a repeat order matches the first batch. Batch releases carry a dimensional report, material certificate and, where agreed, PPAP or ISIR documentation.

Cost and lead time

Tooling is the main cost driver at low volume, so a 3 mm skid plates for laboratory instruments is usually quoted with a composite or printed mould first and the aluminium tool cut once the design is frozen. That keeps the first article cost low and gives a real part to test before the production tool exists. The result is repeatable quality compared with the alternatives, and a piece price that stays stable across repeat releases.

• Sample tooling: 7–15 working days
• Production tooling: 3–4 weeks
• Repeat orders run on stored tooling with no new proving run

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply certificates?

Material certificates, dimensional reports and flame retardancy or food contact declarations are issued with the shipment where the specification requires them.

Can you match an existing part?

Yes. Send a sample or scan and the part can be reverse engineered, with the wall thickness and material measured from the sample.

How long does tooling take?

Sample and first article tooling is usually cut in 7 to 15 working days. Production aluminium tools take 3 to 4 weeks depending on size and cooling layout.

Getting started

Send the drawing or a photo of the current skid plates with the quantity and the finish. The first reply is a manufacturability review with the wall thickness, material and a quotation, so the decision is made on facts rather than on a price alone.