Thick Gauge polypropylene Dashboards in 8 mm – Fitness Equipment Range

These polypropylene dashboards are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for fitness equipment. They are formed from polypropylene 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
• 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
• RoHS compliant grades available

Typical applications

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

How it is made

1. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.
2. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
3. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
4. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
5. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.

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

• 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
• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist

Finishing and assembly options

• two coat polyurethane paint
• silk screened markings
• matte 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. First article inspection covers critical dimensions, wall thickness, colour and texture against the approved sample.

• RoHS compliant grades available
• PPAP or ISIR on request
• UL94 V-0 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 10–15 working days, and repeat releases ship against stored tooling without a new proving run.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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.

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.