12 mm ABS/PMMA Display Shells Manufacturer for Marine And Boat Building

These ABS/PMMA display shells are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for marine and boat building. They are formed from ABS/PMMA sheet at 12 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
• Pad printed logos 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

• console shells
• seat bases
• battery box liners
• hatch covers
• display shells used across general marine and boat building builds

How it is made

1. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
2. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
3. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
4. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
5. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.

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

• 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
• add ribs or returns instead of increasing sheet thickness to save weight and cycle time
• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss

Finishing and assembly options

• pad printed logos
• silk screened markings
• anti graffiti coating
• Threaded inserts, PEM fasteners and brackets fitted before dispatch
• Mating parts can be trial assembled before the first article ships

Quality

First article inspection covers critical dimensions, wall thickness, colour and texture against the approved sample. Sheet thickness is checked on the formed part at the points shown on the drawing, and the readings go into the report.

• material certificates with every batch
• PPAP or ISIR on request
• ISO 9001 quality system

Packing and delivery

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

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.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current display shells 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.