Hi All
I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you sometimes
see around.

I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?

Scoring is probably not going to work because the material is too thick. I
thought about cutting a v-shaped channel out, but am wondering about the best way
to go about that.

I could even stitch the edge in a bookbinders fashion, which would probably
be very functional but look a bit retro.

Thoughts welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

"jkn" wrote in message
...
Hi All
I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic
sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you
sometimes
see around.
I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many
bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?
Scoring is probably not going to work because the material is too thick. I
thought about cutting a v-shaped channel out, but am wondering about the
best way
to go about that.
I could even stitch the edge in a bookbinders fashion, which would
probably
be very functional but look a bit retro.

If it's thermoplastic (as opposed to thermosetting plastic) then you might
consider
heating it and then forming it around a mould?

(update) - I see that they are called 'living hinges'. Reputably possible
to machine them ... wondering if a dremel with some sort of jig might work?

J^n

On Monday, 29 June 2015 21:07:44 UTC+1, jkn wrote:

I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you sometimes
see around.

I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?

Living hinges are made of one specific plastic, others don't survive. They consist of a flat thin section, I don't see that being diy mouldable into a sheet. But maybe you could join suitable plastic to your 2mm bits.


NT

On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 9:07:44 PM UTC+1, jkn wrote:
Hi All
I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you sometimes
see around.

I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?

Scoring is probably not going to work because the material is too thick. I
thought about cutting a v-shaped channel out, but am wondering about the best way
to go about that.

I could even stitch the edge in a bookbinders fashion, which would probably
be very functional but look a bit retro.

Thoughts welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

Polypropylene is the unbreakable plastic you want, its also virtually unglueable.

Adam Aglionby wrote:

Polypropylene is the unbreakable plastic you want, its also virtually unglueable.

I've bought mekweld and polyweld for 'easier' plastics from shop4glue,
they offer an adhesive for 'awkward' plastics.

http://www.shop4glue.com/universal-bond-adhesive-glue-pack-for-all-plastic-repairs-ptfe-polyethylene-polypropylene-silicone-150-p.asp

Rather strangely they operate on pay after delivery, however they seem
to be closed for the summer due to moving premises ...

On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 9:07:44 PM UTC+1, jkn wrote:
Hi All
I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you sometimes
see around.

I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?

Scoring is probably not going to work because the material is too thick. I
thought about cutting a v-shaped channel out, but am wondering about the best way
to go about that.

I could even stitch the edge in a bookbinders fashion, which would probably
be very functional but look a bit retro.

Thoughts welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

You could try ring binding if it's not got to be airtight closed fit.

Hi all
perhaps I didn't explain myself very well - I'm hoping to take an existing flat sheet of thin ?polypropylene?, and socre or otherwise cut away part of the
thickness, leaving me with a thin 'living hinge'. Any advice or experience of
trying that?

Gluing, moulding, etc. etc. are only possibilities if there's no mileage in the
original idea.

As mentioned, I've seen a page which suggests using a ball end cutter in eg. a
Dremel; I also wondered about heating sown sort of v-shaped implement (like a
lino cutter) and dragging it along the desired hinge line.

FWIW I have sent email enquiries to 'shop4glue' via their web form a couple of
times in the past (for different projects) and never had a reply, so they are
not top of my book for anything ;-/

Thanks
J^n

On 30/06/15 01:24, Adam Aglionby wrote:
On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 9:07:44 PM UTC+1, jkn wrote:
Hi All
I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you sometimes
see around.

I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?

Scoring is probably not going to work because the material is too thick. I
thought about cutting a v-shaped channel out, but am wondering about the best way
to go about that.

I could even stitch the edge in a bookbinders fashion, which would probably
be very functional but look a bit retro.

Thoughts welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

Polypropylene is the unbreakable plastic you want, its also virtually unglueable.

Model aeroplane builders use lots of these hinge types. One of the best
materials for hinging flying surfaces on ultra light models was mylar,
which comes in awkward packaging called a 'floppy diskette'. But it does
come precoated with a surface to which superglue will adhere.

Its also available in long strips in 'cassette' packaging.




--
New Socialism consists essentially in being seen to have your heart in
the right place whilst your head is in the clouds and your hand is in
someone else's pocket.

jkn wrote:

FWIW I have sent email enquiries to 'shop4glue' via their web form a couple of
times in the past (for different projects) and never had a reply, so they are
not top of my book for anything ;-/

Yes they do appear somewhat "half-hearted", I suspect the pay after
delivery system is in lieu of a web shop that knows what's in stock and
what isn't so you only pay for what they've been able to send you! Not
many web shops would close down for months due to moving premises.

Piano hinge?
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"jkn" wrote in message
...
Hi All
I have a little project in mind which will use some semi-rigid plastic
sheet,
2mm or so thick. Something like those thin kitchen chopping boards you
sometimes
see around.

I need to have part of this sheet hinged, so that it can withstand many
bends of
approx. 180 degrees. Any thoughts about the best way to achieve this?

Scoring is probably not going to work because the material is too thick. I
thought about cutting a v-shaped channel out, but am wondering about the
best way
to go about that.

I could even stitch the edge in a bookbinders fashion, which would
probably
be very functional but look a bit retro.

Thoughts welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

On Tuesday, 30 June 2015 08:39:59 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
FWIW I have sent email enquiries to 'shop4glue' ...
Yes they do appear somewhat "half-hearted",

Maybe it's down to all the solvents ...

Owain

On Tuesday, 30 June 2015 08:16:53 UTC+1, jkn wrote:
Hi all
perhaps I didn't explain myself very well - I'm hoping to take an existing flat sheet of thin ?polypropylene?, and socre or otherwise cut away part of the
thickness, leaving me with a thin 'living hinge'. Any advice or experience of
trying that?

Gluing, moulding, etc. etc. are only possibilities if there's no mileage in the
original idea.

As mentioned, I've seen a page which suggests using a ball end cutter in eg. a
Dremel; I also wondered about heating sown sort of v-shaped implement (like a
lino cutter) and dragging it along the desired hinge line.

the use a router with a flat ended bit. V is totally thwe wrong shape.


NT

On Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 8:16:53 AM UTC+1, jkn wrote:
Hi all
perhaps I didn't explain myself very well - I'm hoping to take an existing flat sheet of thin ?polypropylene?, and socre or otherwise cut away part of the
thickness, leaving me with a thin 'living hinge'. Any advice or experience of
trying that?

Gluing, moulding, etc. etc. are only possibilities if there's no mileage in the
original idea.

As mentioned, I've seen a page which suggests using a ball end cutter in eg. a
Dremel;

Have an Aldi version dremel that has a collar for spacing the drill off a surface, think its meant for tile cutting, that and ball end cutter dragged down a straight edge might do.


I also wondered about heating sown sort of v-shaped implement (like a
lino cutter) and dragging it along the desired hinge line.

FWIW I have sent email enquiries to 'shop4glue' via their web form a couple of
times in the past (for different projects) and never had a reply, so they are
not top of my book for anything ;-/

Thanks
J^n