OEM Fenders polycarbonate in 4 mm for Textile Machinery

These polycarbonate fenders are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for textile machinery. They are formed from polycarbonate sheet at 4 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
• ISO 9001 quality system

Typical applications

• lint trays
• guard panels
• thread guide covers
• machine side covers
• fenders used across general textile machinery 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. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
4. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
5. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.

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

• add ribs or returns instead of increasing sheet thickness to save weight and cycle time
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• 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
• satin finish
• mould texture
• 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.

• material certificates with every batch
• REACH compliant sheet available
• dimension reports with every release

Packing and delivery

Large panels are crated in made to measure wooden cases with corner protection. 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

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.

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 fenders 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.