Quote:
Originally Posted by HydroJim
it's not hard. You just need a big oven and a big mold. We made clocks in shop class one time and we made the cover for the clock face out of acrylic. We just put the pieces in a toaster oven and then took them out and put a little weight on them over the mold and had a perfect dome shaped piece. I'd imagine the same principle applies to windshields.
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Hi HydroJim -
The basic physical technique of heating and molding the Lexan for automotive-type windshields is as you describe, but with two additional and complicated steps.
One, I believe it would have to be a vacuum mold, so the warm Lexan is actually pulled into the mold for the best optical clarity.
Secondly, AFAIK, raw Lexan is not DOT approved for automotive glass. So even if one had a perfectly shaped Lexan windshield for their project, it would still have to be hard coated. And a DOT emblem would have to be added to the lower passengers side corner to certify the approval to the authorities. I could never get my truck registered without a DOT approved windshield and that little emblem. I know, as the State of CT DMV Truck Squad checked my OEM windshield for the DOT marking before they approved my composite vehicle build.