Thick Gauge flame retardant ABS Equipment Covers in 10 mm – Textile Machinery Range

These flame retardant ABS equipment covers are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for textile machinery. They are formed from flame retardant ABS sheet at 10 mm, trimmed on 5-axis routers and inspected against the drawing before packing. Buyers choose this route where a metal fabrication is too heavy, or where injection moulding tooling cannot be justified for the volume.

Product specification

Key features

• One piece shell replaces a fabrication, so assembly hours drop
• flame retardant ABS keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Soft touch coating finish as standard, further finishes on request
• Trimmed on 5-axis routers, so mounting holes and cut outs match the drawing
• Tooling stored against the part number for repeat and spare orders
• dimension reports with every release

Typical applications

• guard panels
• machine side covers
• thread guide covers
• lint trays
• equipment covers used across general textile machinery builds

How it is made

1. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
2. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
3. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
4. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
5. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.

Material: flame retardant ABS

Flame retardant ABS is specified where the enclosure must meet UL94 V-0 or a comparable rail or appliance standard.

Design notes

• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist
• 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

Finishing and assembly options

• soft touch coating
• two coat polyurethane paint
• hot stamped accents
• Threaded inserts, PEM fasteners and brackets fitted before dispatch
• Mating parts can be trial assembled before the first article ships

Quality

Sheet thickness is checked on the formed part at the points shown on the drawing, and the readings go into the report. Batch releases carry a dimensional report, material certificate and, where agreed, PPAP or ISIR documentation.

• dimension reports with every release
• ISO 9001 quality system
• material certificates with every batch

Packing and delivery

Each part is bagged, edges protected with foam, then cartonised for container loading. Standard lead time to first article is 10–15 working days, and repeat releases ship against stored tooling without a new proving run.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make it in another material?

Any grade in this family can be swapped in. Send the requirement and the material will be quoted with the price difference shown.

What quantity can I order?

Sample quantities start at one piece off printed tooling. The process pays back from about 25 pieces a year and runs well into several thousand.

How fast is the first article?

Seven to fifteen working days from drawing release for sample tooling, with production tooling in three to four weeks.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current equipment covers with the quantity and the finish required. The reply covers material choice, wall thickness, tooling route and price, so the decision is made on a complete picture.