Seat Shells PMMA acrylic in 5 mm for Telecom And Network Cabinets – Formed to Drawing

These PMMA acrylic seat shells are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for telecom and network cabinets. They are formed from PMMA acrylic 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
• PMMA acrylic keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Matte finish 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
• PPAP or ISIR on request

Typical applications

• antenna radomes
• cable trays
• equipment shelves
• cabinet tops
• seat shells used across general telecom and network cabinets 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. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
4. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
5. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.

Material: PMMA acrylic

PMMA gives the glossiest surface and the best UV stability, which is why it is used for light housings and outdoor sign faces.

Design notes

• 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
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss

Finishing and assembly options

• matte finish
• soft touch 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

Moulds, trim fixtures and programmes are stored against the part number, so a repeat order matches the first batch. Sheet thickness is checked on the formed part at the points shown on the drawing, and the readings go into the report.

• dimension reports with every release
• RoHS compliant grades available
• food contact declarations available

Packing and delivery

Each part is bagged, edges protected with foam, then cartonised for container loading. 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

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.

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 seat 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.