Moulding Stretcher

[chap]

This is my first 'project' post, so be gentile! lol

This is something I've been making at work. It's for stretching a flexible plastic moulding, to allow a retractor belt to be fitted inside.

Thought I'd get some pics before paint.

Foot pedal switches air to the pneumatic cylinder to pull the moving half up, extension springs in the columns pull it back down. There's gonna be a bi-directional flow valve to slow the action.
The moulding will be warm when pushed in.
It's always slow when you have to make it up as you go along.
Paint tomorrow. Possibly

Just to add, may use a regulator and guarding to protect hands from the workings.

 

[dopplershift]

This is my first 'project' post, so be gentile! lol

Looks bloody good to me!

Definitely put some guards on that if you can though.

 

[Shox Dr]

Good idea, I've had to put a few of them together by hand when I was coachbuilding. Not easy.

 

[chap]

The MD's sons were assembling them last summer; one holding the moulding open, the other shoving the belt in. Aparently the one pulling the moulding open wrecked his hands doing it.. didn't want to let his dad down

I think i can shroud the moving parts reasonably well. Thinking about it, it wouldn't be safe enough to use without.

Oh, and incase you have to do any in the future, these things become a lot more flexible when their warm!