Cardboard Warriors forum - Stiff materials that can bend and not break.

« Stiff materials that can bend and not break. »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
May 25, 2013, 6:06am

Cardboard Warriors forum :: Papercraft and Modeling discussion :: PRINTING, BUILDING, FINISHING and STORAGE :: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.

Author

Topic: Stiff materials that can bend and not break. (Read 314 times)

TheRooster
Initiate

member is offline

Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Male

Posts: 9

Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Thread Started on Jul 1, 2012, 10:03pm »

I'm designing some 2.5D and some simple 3D minis but I'm running into a problem. Cardstock just isn't giving me the structure I'd like. I've had the best results when gluing two sheets of cardstock together, but that's still on the hairy edge of too flimsy. And it's labor intensive. I'd rather have something that is the correct thickness/strength initially.

I've looked into styrene sheets, but those are too brittle.

I'm looking for a material that is between .020" and .030" thick and is decently stiff, but can be made to bend and not break. I can imagine a material like really thin foam core board that can be crushed along a seam to enable a bend to be made. However, I don't know of any foam core that comes as thin as I'm wanting.

I suppose what I want is something like miniature corrugated cardboard because I will be using it just like cardboard box makers. Cutting and folding to make 3D or 2.5D objects.

Any ideas?

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

cowboyleland
Illuminator Scribe

member is offline

[avatar]

Iconoclast and Heretic

Joined: Jun 2008
Gender: Male

Posts: 1,226
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #1 on Jul 1, 2012, 10:15pm »

Cake boxes are a little thinner than cereal boxes, they are white and they come filled with yummy cake

But seriously, I guess bristol board is too thin? Have you tried mat board?

What about skinning a styrene sheet with paper? It is still "labour intensive" but less brittle and if you print your textures and shapes it saves you from tracing/drawing before the cut and painting after. Probably quicker in the long run.

BTW Yeah for 2.5D!

« Last Edit: Jul 1, 2012, 10:21pm by cowboyleland »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

oldschooldm
Monk

Master of the Cut Files
member is offline

[avatar]

Joined: Aug 2011
Gender: Male

Posts: 683

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #2 on Jul 1, 2012, 10:30pm »

BTW - some folks print on adhesive paper (such as Avery 3383) and then adhere it to something much stronger for structure. Since the glue is on the sheet you can separate the printing from the cutting/folding.

http://www.amazon.com/Avery-Sticker-Proj....ords=avery+3383

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

TheRooster
Initiate

member is offline

Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Male

Posts: 9

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #3 on Jul 1, 2012, 10:50pm »

I've tried many variations of solid paper/chipboard/etc. To get the strength I'd like requires it to be relatively thick, which then makes it difficult to fold.

I think one of the keys is that it needs to be "thick" AND crushable for the fold joints.

I've been researching and came across F-flute cardboard. It's about .030" thick. Apparently McDonald's uses it for their Big Mac containers? I don't usually eat at McDonald's, but I might have to take a trip. Or maybe I can find someone who carries sheets of it locally.

If I can scrounge up some F-flute cardboard, I'll report on what I find.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

TheRooster
Initiate

member is offline

Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Male

Posts: 9

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #4 on Jul 2, 2012, 10:47am »

Another material I'll be looking at is polycarbonate.
http://annalisabernabovi.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/polycarbonate-business-card/
Just talked to Interstate Plastics and the salesman told me this material can bend and fold and not break. Comes in 20 mil with a matte finish, or 30 mil with a smooth finish.
Interesting.
Also, just read about PETG. Haven't seen it thinner than 1/16" though.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

TheRooster
Initiate

member is offline

Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Male

Posts: 9

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #5 on Jul 18, 2012, 5:42pm »

Update:

PETG is amazing stuff. Absolutely amazing. The only problem, and it's kind of a big one, is that it can't be printed on with home printers.

However, if you have access to flatbed digital printers, or an HP Indigo press, it's amazing.

You can cut it, bend it, bend it again, bend it 50 more times, and it doesn't break. When you bend it anywhere, it stays at the angle you want. It's stiff enough to be structural.

I just wish my Silhouette SD could cut it better. .010" thick is about all it will do. I like the .015 thick sheets better.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

glennwilliams
Illuminator Scribe

member is offline

[avatar]

In search of . . . more coffee

Joined: Mar 2008
Gender: Male

Posts: 626
Location: Lancaster, CA

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #6 on Jul 19, 2012, 11:04am »

What about the plastic signs (No trespassing or For Rent, etc) from DIY stores? Print on full sheet labels, then adhere. Very inexpensive.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

TheRooster
Initiate

member is offline

Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Male

Posts: 9

Re: Stiff materials that can bend and not break.
« Reply #7 on Jul 20, 2012, 11:18am »

I've seen metal signs, and I've seen coroplast signs. There are probably solid plastic signs as well, but I don't know what material they're made from.

The problem with using stick-on labels is that when you bend the material, one side will crinkle, the other side will rip.

Manufacturers make overhead transparencies that will work in an inkjet printer. They should be able to make PETG sheets work in an inkjet too. Maybe someday.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free