This is a really random question, somewhat car related but I think a few of you guys may offer good input.

Over the summer I made a few sets of plexiglass lenses for headlights and I have had success selling them and turning a decent profit. To get the plexi hot to vaccum form I popped it in our oven at home and the 12x24 sheets fit into the oven at a diagonal. Now I have moved to Raleigh I have about $100 worth of 12x24 plexi sheets lying around the house, but my oven is too small to fit the sheets into and it has exposed elements which would just burn the plexi. I have about 20 people waiting to get these lenses and I can't really make them at the moment which is really frustrating. I have a heatgun but it's a PITA to use to evenly heat up the plastic to form it. Does anyone have any other ideas to heat up the plexi? I technically could go into the design shop and use their vaccumformer and heating rack but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't appreciate me doing that to make a profit.

So, what else could I use to heat up plexi - or does anyone have an old wide/large oven that they dont need anymore?

If not I will have to make lots of trips to Charlotte and back to do this every other weekend and would prefer not to.

Here is some of the lenses made over the summer just to show

THanks

[Edited on August 23, 2007 at 8:45 PM. Reason : pic]

8/23/2007 8:43:25 PM

Go in the Design shop, talk to Jim or Chris (not the really old dude Jack, he will piss in your face). Tell them what you need to do, that it's a one time thing, and you'd be willing to pay something for it. They'd probably let you do it, especially this early in the semester.

Alternative, replace your oven with one from craigslist that's big enough.

8/23/2007 8:50:54 PM

yeah I've been looking on craigslist and most are too small.

Since I'll end up making probably 50 or so sets I don't want to go to the design shop to do this (although I would if it was for a school project or something).

8/23/2007 9:55:12 PM

might also randomly call up some local prototyping places (centerline springs to mind) and see if they have a vacuformer you could buy time on.

8/23/2007 10:46:17 PM

what are you using to seal the plexi glass so they dont cloud up?

8/23/2007 11:21:28 PM

to seal it on the housing?

i'm using weathersealant. the clouding up will go away as long as there is a drain hole.

8/23/2007 11:36:56 PM

to shield it against UV. they are going to get hazy without a UV protectant.

8/23/2007 11:39:46 PM

currently the plastic I am using doesnot, but i can put film on it to protect it. THe main reason people are buying is because they lenses don't have a bunch of bars and lines through them so they are a lot better for HID retrofits.

8/23/2007 11:47:20 PM

could always use some sheet metal, insulation, and the parts of an oven to ghetto rig one that is the right size

8/24/2007 9:36:38 AM

grill or pig cooker?

8/24/2007 10:25:38 AM