Can We Talk Plastic Body Panels?

As I walked through the ABS vacuum forming shop, I couldn't help but notice how the one operator managed multiple machines. Currently, panels are in full production at the rAMP.

Starting from the far right, sheets of ABS are put in the vacuum former. For instance, one sheet can produce 4 fenders or 4 rear panels.

Currently the operator has to manually place the formed sheet for cutting. In the future, the yellow robot arm will move the formed sheets into the cutter.

Robot arm to be used in the future.

On the left side individual pieces are placed on a lazy susan outfitted with molds that have drawn in cutouts. The machine then processes the forms by cutting out the areas for things like headlights, markers, and vents.

Cutting machine with molds on lazy susan behind the cage.

One item of interest was the solid white ABS sheets and formed panels. Apparently very expensive but likely much cheaper than painting.

Jesse Fittipaldi's (CSO) FUV in all white ABS.