Bending & Thermoforming

Line bending, drape forming and 3D contour work — curves that would need tooling in other materials.

Both materials soften predictably with heat, which makes curved and folded parts far cheaper in plastic than in glass or metal. We line bend, drape form and produce 3D contour parts to drawing.

One point worth knowing before you specify: polycarbonate must be dried before forming. It absorbs moisture from the air, and forming undried sheet produces bubbles and silvery streaks that cannot be repaired afterwards.

Thermoformed polycarbonate component being shaped
Thermoformed polycarbonate component being shaped

Specification

Property Specification
Line bending Single and multiple folds, sharp internal radius
Drape forming Curves and arcs over a former
3D contour forming Compound curvature, produced on our CNC centres
Cold curving Solid PC to approx. 150× thickness; multiwall to 175×
Pre-drying Polycarbonate dried before forming as standard
Tolerance ±0.1 mm on machined features

Typical applications

  • Curved machine guards and covers
  • Formed display stands and retail fixtures
  • Point-of-sale holders and dispensers
  • Equipment housings and enclosures
  • Curved signage and architectural features

Minimum order and lead time

This grade ships from 100 m² or 1 tonne — a trial pallet, not a full container. Standard sizes and stock colours run in 7–10 days; non-standard thickness or width in 12–18 days; add 3–7 days for CNC cut-to-size work. Quoted in USD on FOB, CIF or DDP terms. Full detail on the MOQ, lead time & shipping page.

Questions buyers ask

Can you form to my 3D CAD model?

Yes. Send STEP or IGES and we will confirm what is achievable — some geometry needs tooling, which we will quote separately rather than hiding in the part price.

Why does formed polycarbonate sometimes bubble?

Undried sheet. Polycarbonate absorbs atmospheric moisture, which turns to steam at forming temperature. We pre-dry as standard; a supplier who does not will produce streaked parts.

Is cold curving cheaper than thermoforming?

Much cheaper, since there is no heat, tooling or forming time — but it is limited to gentle single-axis curves. Anything tighter or compound needs forming.

Request a quote MOQ & shipping

From the factory

Bending & Thermoforming — production & application photos

Photographs taken at our plant in Jiangsu. Sample pieces of any standard grade are available free — you cover the courier.

Where to look next

Related pages

CNC & Laser Cutting

Profiles, cut-outs, holes and engraving from your DXF, DWG or STEP files — 22 machines, ±0.1 mm.

Solid Polycarbonate Sheet

The general-purpose grade — around 200× the impact strength of glass, and it will not shatter.

Custom Specifications

Non-standard thickness, width, colour and construction — what we can make, and what we cannot.

Start with a trial order

Send your specification. Get a quote in one working day.

Thickness, size, colour, quantity — or just upload the drawing. We quote in USD on FOB, CIF or DDP terms, from 100 m² or 1 tonne. No full-container commitment required.