Battery Boxes polypropylene in 3 mm for Fitness Equipment – Formed to Drawing

These polypropylene battery boxes are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for fitness equipment. They are formed from polypropylene sheet at 3 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
• polypropylene keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Two coat polyurethane paint 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
• food contact declarations available

Typical applications

• weight stack shrouds
• seat shells
• treadmill motor covers
• console housings
• battery boxes used across general fitness equipment builds

How it is made

1. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
2. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
3. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
4. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
5. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.

Material: polypropylene

Polypropylene survives repeated impact and most cleaning chemicals. Its low forming temperature keeps cycles short, but it shrinks more, so the mould is cut with the shrink factor built in.

Design notes

• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• keep a draft angle of at least 3 degrees on vertical walls so the part releases cleanly
• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss
• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance

Finishing and assembly options

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

Quality

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.

• dimension reports with every release
• material certificates with every batch
• RoHS compliant grades available

Packing and delivery

Parts are nested to save freight, with returnable dunnage available on repeat routes. Standard lead time to first article is 3–4 weeks, 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.

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.

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 battery boxes 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.