Help with large plastic or acrylic dome.

H

hewito

Active Member
I need help making a costume for my gf(again) she wants me to make it for her ugly sweater party, a type of snow globe.I am looking for a large clear acrylic type of dome and I have no idea where to find it( i seen some on the internet but some go up to 3,000 dollars!!)
Does anybody have any idea where or how to make one..i am thinking a 5 feet diameter,I have no idea really..I need help!!!

I am not sure if this is the right place to post.thanks
 
I am looking to make a sphere,I am thinking is cheaper to get two domes and put them together? and after checking sizes I think 48 inches will be my best bet...HELP!!
 
That price is about right.
Just sheet acrylic is expensive and goes up if you form it.

At the aquarium shop I worked at we did some 4'x4' cylinder tanks and just a piece in that size was several thousand dollars.
And that was about 16 years ago.
 
There's always the inflatable snowglobes for your front lawn - maybe disassemble one a bit and make that work? Be a whole lot lighter and much more durable too! Right around $125.

51aEXe8tfVL._SX425_.jpg
 
I think I'd just buy something like this ebay number 262712493866 and add a zipper and a battery to power it.
 
What size? Sheets are generally 1200mm (4 feet) wide, so you are limited. As mentioned, the plastic itself is not cheap. I recently bought a 800mm x 800mm x 10mm and that cost me $100.

The challenges here (and why those that can do this charge what they do) is getting enough heat (about 350 degrees F) into the plastic, then having enough air pressure or or enough vacuum suction to make the pull. Both require a very good seal as well. In regards to suction, a vacuum cleaner will not cut it, you need a big vacuum pump. Compressed air is normally used for forming domes.

Generally this is specialised and not DIY.
 
cavx said:
What size? Sheets are generally 1200mm (4 feet) wide, so you are limited. As mentioned, the plastic itself is not cheap. I recently bought a 800mm x 800mm x 10mm and that cost me $100.

The challenges here (and why those that can do this charge what they do) is getting enough heat (about 350 degrees F) into the plastic, then having enough air pressure or or enough vacuum suction to make the pull. Both require a very good seal as well. In regards to suction, a vacuum cleaner will not cut it, you need a big vacuum pump. Compressed air is normally used for forming domes.

Generally this is specialised and not DIY.
Click to expand...

I bought the 7mm acethate and it works,the problem is that since its so thin the top colllapses...Any idea besides putting some sort of metal wires?
 
No you need thicker plastic. This means higher cost, the need for more heat and more pressure or suction. This is why they cost so much.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
 
cavx said:
No you need thicker plastic. This means higher cost, the need for more heat and more pressure or suction. This is why they cost so much.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
After some thought I tried something,I kinda interlock the "pedals" on top and with some tape on bottom I got it to work,I saved some money since the .010mm is quite expensive..IMG_9770.JPG
 
Hey hewito,
I see this is still an active project :)
What is the dimensions of your dome?
Have you drawn up plans for the portion around the waist area and how you plan to install the styrofoam snow blower?
I know there are Christmas trees that have the styrofoam bead blowers to simulate snow. It pushes beads up a center tube
to the top of the tree and the beads fall into a lower trough area to recycle into the blower.


.
 
propmaster2000 said:
Hey hewito,
I see this is still an active project :)
What is the dimensions of your dome?
Have you drawn up plans for the portion around the waist area and how you plan to install the styrofoam snow blower?
I know there are Christmas trees that have the styrofoam bead blowers to simulate snow. It pushes beads up a center tube
to the top of the tree and the beads fall into a lower trough area to recycle into the blower.


.
Click to expand...


I am using the dimensions of a hulla hoop as my base,then I will cut an 1/8 plywood so it will sit ,the plywood is going to have the foam and fabric,the center hole will have my gf dimensions in order to sit at her hip..I am using the arduino to activate the blower,adafruit and leds,I already got the code and working on the board..I dont think I will put the hose on top since its a dome,its supposed to be clear,so I am thinking on putting a sort of funnel and just throw some in there while its activated,other than that I am thinking how to make the snow flow better..I am suing the TOOGOO blower.
 

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propmaster2000 said:
Hey hewito,
I see this is still an active project :)
What is the dimensions of your dome?
Have you drawn up plans for the portion around the waist area and how you plan to install the styrofoam snow blower?
I know there are Christmas trees that have the styrofoam bead blowers to simulate snow. It pushes beads up a center tube
to the top of the tree and the beads fall into a lower trough area to recycle into the blower.


.
Click to expand...

I went an easier route,some leds and a sound board and all done..https://youtu.be/FYc6kNorsMI
 
Hey,
Ya, having blowing snow was pretty ambitious and probably would have been a bit heavy and cumbersome.
That sound to light circuit works pretty well.
Maybe hang some cotton balls on thread for snow.

Are we going to see your GF modeling the finished product?
Looks good.

.
 
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