Thick Gauge Kydex acrylic PVC Cowls in 3 mm – Garden And Outdoor Power Equipment Range

These Kydex acrylic PVC cowls are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for garden and outdoor power equipment. They are formed from Kydex acrylic PVC 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
• Kydex acrylic PVC keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Silk screened markings 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
• tool trays
• mower decks
• engine covers
• cowls used across general garden and outdoor power equipment builds

How it is made

1. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
2. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
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. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.

Material: Kydex acrylic PVC

Kydex acrylic PVC sheet is specified for interior trim that must resist scuffing and meet fire, smoke and toxicity rules.

Design notes

• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface
• 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
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist

Finishing and assembly options

• silk screened markings
• pad printed logos
• powder coat finish
• 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.

• REACH compliant sheet available
• PPAP or ISIR on request
• RoHS compliant 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 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.

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 cowls 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.