Polycarbonate panel having shallow bends

A method for forming multiple bends into a panel comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second opposing and elongated dies, the first die having in cross section a projecting profile and the second die a recessed profile extending between a pair of outer edge portions for receiving the projecting profile;
• heating a surface of at least one of the first and second dies to a temperature up to 110° F.;
• providing the panel of a polycarbonate material at an ambient temperature and advancing the panel to a first location between the first and second elongated dies so that a surface of the panel is placed into proximity with the heated surface, resulting in a temperature increase of the panel while retaining its structural rigidity;
• displacing the projecting profile into the recessed profile to compress a portion of the panel sandwiched between the dies and to initially deform the panel;
• pinching the sandwiched portion of the panel at first and second interior locations between the dies;
• forming the panel by stretching and further bending the panel in the die at the pinch locations to define a thinned portion of the panel and in order to alter a molecular structure of the panel between the pinch locations resulting in strengthening of the panel;
• separating the dies and subsequently advancing the panel to at least a second location and repeating of the steps of displacing, pinching and forming the panel in order to reform the panel to exhibit multiple strengthened bends.