So ive got an idea for a fire extinguisher mount for my vehicle that would mount to seat bolts of front passenger seat. There woudl be a two part mount, first part would be a bracket that attaches to the seat mounting bolts, then goes up 1.5 inche ,  then forward about 1.5 inches  (over some plastic housings to look nice), then down 3 inches to the floor and forward,  then laterally to the other mount(whihc is similar) . The mount is the same one that gets used on jeep roll bars (little red button , pull and then swing the mount out, it stays on extinguisher while it is in use). What do i use to fabricate a prototype out of? I need something flexiable, but able to hold the shape, able to be drilled, and cut.

Update :

Works great , using the sheet of ABS stuff let me do prototypes easily. Final metal product was made of  5/16 mild steel and welded at the 90 degree cross piece.  The initial plan was to use bolts but that created a bump I didn’t like and made extinguisher sit higher than I wanted . So I welded it; then one shit black primer/ paint.

The seat moves fully, I can pull extinguisher from any seat position, doesn’t rattle and looks good.

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Model it with something simple and easy first ~ even cardboard.

Then thin sheet metal - and finally, when the bugs are worked out thicker sheet.


ETA: you can also work with sheets of ABS and use heat to bend and glue to connect pieces.

going with ABS. I tried cardboard and it wouldnt do the bends i needed and stay bent

Are you not considering 3D printing as an option?

That would likely be a good way to go if you need some precision - but maybe for a first rough proof-of-concept prototype that would not be necessary.

You can do 3D printing in ABS (as well as many other materials).

This is for personal use and not production?

I fab a lot of stuff like that out of 3/4"x1/8" galvanized steel stock. Or 1"-1 1/4" wide if I need it more beefy.
You can bend it in a semicircle shape by wrapping it around an extinguisher, and maybe rivet the quick release clamp off an existing tank mount to it.

Thin sheet is pretty easy to cut with snips and bend on the edge of a work table with bare hands. Go to your home improvement store and get a sheet or roll of flat aluminum flashing material, cut, bend, and test fit to your heart's desire with only some hand snips and maybe some pliers if parts are too small to bend with your hands/fingers.

I'd be looking at 3D printing it.

I don’t own a 3d printer, and have no idea how to use one. I ordered some thin plastic that should do the trick, once o get design that works I’m going to have local metal fab shop make one for me . If it works from there I’ll
Consider making a dozen and seeing what they would charge me.

Model in cad and 3d print prototypes if you plan on making it a product. Once you have the design down, you can have it machined out of metal in a batch. Or you could make a mold out of a 3d print and lay carbon fiber.

So this isnt a high end product, it is going to be a floor mounted fire extinguisher bracket for my bronco sport, basically just bolts to the passenger seat(right under the thighs, so it is out of way, but grabbable by driver). When people say "machining" im thinking CNC machining, this isnt that level of precision, this is a "close enough with that bend" . Basically 1/8th inch steel bent into reverse C shape with bends so it rests on floor. Couple holes through it to mount to seat bolts, and couple more to mount fire extinguisher bracket.
Ive got some ABS on order and it will be here friday, ill spend weekend fabbing it up and then bring the plastic prototype to local metal shop and tell them what im going for. they are pretty good and it isnt complicated, likely 50 bucks.

Ok prototyping done. Works great actually. (Well from draw I didn’t wanna waste a fire extinguisher). Took to local fabrication shop and guy said he would make it from steel for 40 bucks but would save the “pattern “ just in case i wanted extras, and that I could likely get extras for cheaper. Gotta strap it all together and see if I can make a viable invention.

Finished. It does what I wanted. See update in OP.