polycarbonate Dashboards Vacuum Formed in 6 mm for Dental Equipment

These polycarbonate dashboards are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for dental equipment. They are formed from polycarbonate sheet at 6 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
• polycarbonate keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Anti graffiti 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

• chair shrouds
• suction unit housings
• instrument tray covers
• cabinet panels
• dashboards used across general dental equipment builds

How it is made

1. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
2. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
3. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
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: polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is used when the housing must survive impact or carry a glazing function. It must be dried before forming or the sheet will bubble.

Design notes

• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface

Finishing and assembly options

• anti graffiti coating
• soft touch coating
• silk screened markings
• Threaded inserts, PEM fasteners and brackets fitted before dispatch
• Mating parts can be trial assembled before the first article ships

Quality

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

• material certificates with every batch
• food contact declarations available
• REACH compliant sheet available

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

Are spare parts available later?

Tooling is stored against the part number for the life of the programme, so replacements or spare panels can be released at any time.

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.

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.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current dashboards 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.