ABS/PMMA Cart Panels Vacuum Formed in 8 mm for Garden And Outdoor Power Equipment

These ABS/PMMA cart panels are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for garden and outdoor power equipment. They are formed from ABS/PMMA sheet at 8 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
• ABS/PMMA 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
• RoHS compliant grades available

Typical applications

• grass catcher shells
• mower decks
• tool trays
• engine covers
• cart panels used across general garden and outdoor power equipment builds

How it is made

1. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
2. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.
3. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
4. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
5. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.

Material: ABS/PMMA

ABS/PMMA combines an ABS core with a hard acrylic cap, so the part has the toughness of ABS and the UV and scratch resistance of acrylic.

Design notes

• keep a draft angle of at least 3 degrees on vertical walls so the part releases cleanly
• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss

Finishing and assembly options

• soft touch coating
• clear protective film
• UV stabilised as formed
• 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.

• UL94 V-0 grades available
• PPAP or ISIR on request
• RoHS compliant grades available

Packing and delivery

Parts are stacked with interleaved film and packed in export cartons on pallets. 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

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.

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.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current cart panels 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.