Thick Gauge polycarbonate Ventilation Shrouds in 6 mm – Marine And Boat Building Range

These polycarbonate ventilation shrouds are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for marine and boat building. 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
• 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
• material certificates with every batch

Typical applications

• battery box liners
• console shells
• seat bases
• hatch covers
• ventilation shrouds used across general marine and boat building builds

How it is made

1. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
2. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
3. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.
4. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
5. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.

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

• 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
• 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

Finishing and assembly options

• soft touch coating
• powder coat finish
• as formed gloss
• Threaded inserts, PEM fasteners and brackets fitted before dispatch
• Mating parts can be trial assembled before the first article ships

Quality

First article inspection covers critical dimensions, wall thickness, colour and texture against the approved sample. Moulds, trim fixtures and programmes are stored against the part number, so a repeat order matches the first batch.

• dimension reports with every release
• material certificates with every batch
• UL94 V-0 grades available

Packing and delivery

Each part is bagged, edges protected with foam, then cartonised for container loading. Standard lead time to first article is 7–15 working days, and repeat releases ship against stored tooling without a new proving run.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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 ventilation shrouds 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.