Bent substrates... how is this done?

[weaselboogie]

This sign is at baby'r'us. Its 2 8'x3' signs joined together, approx 2" this and the entire face has a gentle curve to it. The edges are edge laminated.

In woodworking, a trick that can produce some drastic curves consist of slicing the wood to 1/8", glueing all the faces back together, a conforming jig and then a vacuum press or a sh!tload of clamps. http://martyswoodworking.ca/Chris and Lisa/Headboard Panel in Vacuum Press_Large.jpg
I just can't imagine a sign this large would be constructed the same way.

No jobs pending, I just was curious if anyone had any ideas of how they did this. This is a national franchise, so they would have had to done a ton of them.

 

[Billct2]

Probably this type of product..
http://www.kerfkore.com/index_files/Page4089.htm

 

[saktrnch]

When we build a radius wall in a house, we would cut the top and bottom plates out of plywood, put in whatever studs were needed, and cover with 1/4" plywood. The 1/4" plywood has a lot of bend in it. Could be something similar with this sign.

 

[Rick]

I would think it's rolled aluminum square tubing, skinned, and then a laminate applied to that.

 

[Biker Scout]

Steam Box. Easy to do. However, if I were to make that sign out of any other material, like ACM, or the above mentioned aluminum tubing, I'd take it to a metal shop and have them run it through a sheet roller or ring roller (for tubing) both of which I've done. I had a ring roller in-house.

 

[signmeup]

That's just Sintra that's been out in the sun. Keepin' it flat's the trick.

 

[TheSnowman]

Haha.

 

[Blazingsun]

that's just sintra that's been out in the sun. Keepin' it flat's the trick.

 

[Pat Whatley]

I'm with Rick.

 

[Tiki]

We have done some similar with more curve using a Aluminum frame and Wiggle Wood then laminated

 

[eddesign]

kerfkore

We do a lot of that type of work for a food chain we use Kerfkore and Ultralite its like cardboard but much stronger here is were we get it www.outwater.com

 

[shakey0818]

bend it like beckham