Seamless Clear Dome Help

[dorcphish]

Anybody have any clue how to do a helmet similar to this?

The only way I can think to do it is one piece mold with a collapsible core but I'd still get air bubbles (unless I spend the rest of my youth pouring the clear resin through a syringe-sized opening or find a pressure pot the size of a mini fridge)

Thanks,

~Kevin

 

[RedTwoX]

Hmmmm.... tough one. I wonder if it's posible to get clear acrylic hot enough to vacume form that. Probably not. Slush casting clear resin is going to make so many air bubbles it will be unusable.

I'll be very interested to see what those with more experience than I have to say about it.

If somebody held a gun to my head and said "come up with this or die", I would probably start hitting local art studios and universities trying to find someone who is good with glass blowing and pay them to make it for me. I'd also expect it to cost quite a bit, but then there's that gun to me head Also, I have seen some pretty smooth blown glass, but nothing that smooth. There would be some fluctuations in thickness that will be obvious looking through the piece.

{Edit in}
I am quite serious when I suggest this: Have you checked pet shops for large fish bowls? No joke. Just see what is out there. You might also try craftstores looking for large flower vases. Perhaps a large glass/plastic enclosure for a collectors case? You just might (don't held your breath, but take the time to look) come across a found object to suit your needs.

 

[clonesix]

The bubble is formed by blow molding acrylic. Making a bubble this big takes some practice. If you have never tried it before, if the acrylic is over inflated, it will pop. If you aren't expecting it, you will wet your pants. It is loud.

 

[dorcphish]

Looks like I have some blow molding research to do. Thanks for the advice. With a little luck, I'll end up with something worthy of posting pictures of. Thanks again,

~Kevin

 

[Great_Bizarro]

I have formed several 1/2 spheres but nothing this extreme. That will take some practice to do . You could make a female mold and place over the heated lexan then apply air to force into the mold and get the effect.

 

[propsculptor]

If you are in Southern California, Plastic Depot sells Clear Acrylic Domes they are not as tall as those but they may be able to help you out.

Plastic Depot - (818)843-3030

 

[dorcphish]

Plastic Depot, huh? Sounds like something to look into. I'm actually in Ohio but I'm sure if I can't get a dome from them, they can give me a product number or something. This will definately be a project to work up to. Any good resources on blow molding or is it the kind of thing you need factory grade machinery for?

 

[dorcphish]

For anyone who's interested, I found This Link

They have a wide variety of dome shapes, sizes, and materials. Nothing exactly like the one I was looking for but it's a start.