HDPE Dashboards Vacuum Formed in 5 mm for Signage And Wayfinding

These HDPE dashboards are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for signage and wayfinding. They are formed from HDPE sheet at 5 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
• HDPE keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• As formed gloss 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
• material certificates with every batch

Typical applications

• post caps
• light box covers
• sign faces
• direction panel shells
• dashboards used across general signage and wayfinding builds

How it is made

1. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
2. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
3. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
4. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
5. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.

Material: HDPE

HDPE is chosen for chemical resistance and impact strength at low temperature. It needs more heat and a longer cooling cycle than ABS, and it is painted only after flame or plasma treatment.

Design notes

• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface
• add ribs or returns instead of increasing sheet thickness to save weight and cycle time
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist

Finishing and assembly options

• as formed gloss
• two coat polyurethane paint
• EMI shielding coating
• 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. Moulds, trim fixtures and programmes are stored against the part number, so a repeat order matches the first batch.

• ISO 9001 quality system
• material certificates with every batch
• UL94 V-0 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 2–3 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.

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 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.