How to: Sheet Press Machine
Outline 👣
Before the Start
Introduction 🖊
During my first week of the design residency, I learned how to use the big sheet press machine from Precious Plastic. Recycling HDPE. A dream come true!
Goals 🎯
- What I think I already know
- Never worked before with this technique.
- What I want to learn
- Learn the basics to be able to make further experimentations.
- Experiment with different materials.
Project Management
How I’m going to organize my work during the week.
| Task | Time | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Set up machine | 30 min | 12, September |
| Press material | 1h | 12, September |
| Cool down material | 5h | 12, September |
Research
Previous projects which I researched during this process:
- The work by (kahietana.dsgn)[https://www.instagram.com/p/COvqb4HDb-v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link], making sheets with PLA leftovers from 3d printers.
During the Process
Process 🏊♀️
Step 1 - Clean the sheets
- Clean both the bottom and top surfaces where the material will be located with a smooth and a sharp blade to remove the plastic leftovers.
Step 2 - Cooking Spray
- add cooking spray in both surfaces.
- wait 10' for it to dry.
Step 3 - Fill plastics
- fill a big cube with HDPE or PP.
- make the mix of colors you want.
- add a frame with the thickness of the material you want to reach. It is possible also to make this step without the frame.
- locate the plastics on top of the sheet, have fun making different patterns.
Step 4 - Press the plastic
- Press the plastics using the jack.
Step 5 - Heat up the sheet
- It is important in this step to heat up the sheeting step by step. Starting with 30ºC on the bottom and 50ºC on the top surface. Increase 30ºC every time the temperature is reached on both surfaces, till both reach 160ºC for HDPE.
- Press the sheet more if it's possible and add clamps on the sides when is not leveled.
- Turn on the air extractor, and make sure the windows are open to ensure the correct ventilation of the room.
- Wait 1h to the sheet to be ready.
Step 6 - Cool down
- Once the sheet is ready, turn off the heating elements and wait for 5h till the sheet is ready.
- Unpress the sheets and remove your plastic sheet.
Retrospective 🤔
@12/09/22
- The result shows some spots where the material did not go fully through. I will try to add some extra material to the surface and repeat the process to smooth both surfaces.
- The color pattern outcome is not as expected. I will play with the colors again on the next tests.