Protective Guards PC/ASA in 12 mm for Fitness Equipment – Formed to Drawing

These PC/ASA protective guards are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for fitness equipment. They are formed from PC/ASA 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
• PC/ASA 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
• dimension reports with every release

Typical applications

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

How it is made

1. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
2. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
3. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
4. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
5. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.

Material: PC/ASA

PC/ASA blends impact strength with weatherability, used for outdoor equipment covers that also need to survive knocks.

Design notes

• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist
• 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
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning

Finishing and assembly options

• pad printed logos
• EMI shielding coating
• UV stabilised as formed
• 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.

• RoHS compliant grades available
• ISO 9001 quality system
• material certificates with every batch

Packing and delivery

Parts are stacked with interleaved film and packed in export cartons on pallets. 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.

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.

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 protective guards 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.