Gino P. Quintiliani has written an excellent article about how he built his own vacuum-forming machine. He''s supplied a list of the materials required and a step-by-step guide to construction.
Link to Item
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
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Home-made vacuum-formerPosted: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 05:10 PM UTC
greatbrit
United Kingdom
Member Since: May 14, 2003
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Member Since: May 14, 2003
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 05:19 PM UTC
cool,
i used to use vacuum formers at school, never thought how easy it would be to make your own.
however wouldnt something vacuum formed have almost no detail on the outside? we only used to recreate simple shapes as the casings for electronic devices, using pretty thick ABS sheets.
maybe using thinner sheets works better?
cheers
joe
i used to use vacuum formers at school, never thought how easy it would be to make your own.
however wouldnt something vacuum formed have almost no detail on the outside? we only used to recreate simple shapes as the casings for electronic devices, using pretty thick ABS sheets.
maybe using thinner sheets works better?
cheers
joe
Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 06:44 PM UTC
Quoted Text
wouldnt something vacuum formed have almost no detail on the outside?
Hi Joe
That depends on whether you use a male or female master i.e. whether the sheet plastic is formed over or into the mould.
Using a female mould, you can get good detail, but you need to drill small air-holes through the mould to create a vacuum and allow the sheet to be forced into it - this is what causes the small pips visible on commercial vacuformed kits.
Hope this helps
Rowan
Roadkill
Antwerpen, Belgium
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 07:46 PM UTC
maybe stupid, but for what can vacu forming be used (not in terms of aircraft)
matt
Campaigns Administrator
New York, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 08:08 PM UTC
Uh.... Canvas for trucks........ I'm sure there's more....
mikeli125
England - North West, United Kingdom
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Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 04:52 PM UTC
you could use it for boxes, notek lights alsorts just got to put your mind to it
Grumpyoldman
Consigliere
Florida, United States
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Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 10:46 PM UTC
Nice article, and a simple method of making a Vac former.
as to what to make, canvas covers have been metioned and a few others. First thing that comes to my mind beside the obvious aircraft stuff, is scale thickness fenders.
as to what to make, canvas covers have been metioned and a few others. First thing that comes to my mind beside the obvious aircraft stuff, is scale thickness fenders.
propboy44256
Ohio, United States
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Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 11:58 PM UTC
Interesting article, but one most important item was left out of the list of items needed. the VACUUM SOURCE. What do I use a shop vac?, a regular vacuum cleaner..How much vacuum is required?
matt
Campaigns Administrator
New York, United States
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Posted: Friday, August 20, 2004 - 12:00 AM UTC
A good shopvac should work!!!
Posted: Friday, August 20, 2004 - 12:54 AM UTC
Hi there
Any vacuum cleaner should work. I've read that you should switch it off quickly after the vacuum is achieved, or you risk over-straining the motor.
All the best
Rowan
Any vacuum cleaner should work. I've read that you should switch it off quickly after the vacuum is achieved, or you risk over-straining the motor.
All the best
Rowan
LogansDad
North Carolina, United States
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Posted: Friday, August 20, 2004 - 01:59 AM UTC
Propboy, I use a 1 gal. 1.5 HP Shopvac. Our 2nd such, as I had to replace my wife's after discovering just the problem that Merlin mentioned...
Great Timing, Rowan!!!!! :-)
Great Timing, Rowan!!!!! :-)
Posted: Friday, August 20, 2004 - 06:16 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Great Timing, Rowan!!!!!
Sorry Robert
I was there in spirit... I sent the vibes: "noooo Roooberrt, dooon't leeeave thee vacuuuum onnn tooo lonnngg!!!"
Fizz! Putt! Whirr! ... so much for telepathy!
Sorry
Rowan
KFMagee
Texas, United States
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Posted: Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:17 AM UTC
Interesting article.... could we get some "diagrams", as I got a bit lost on the use of the reinforcement basswood.
A nice vacuform would be excellent for creating things like wall sections and roofing as well....
A nice vacuform would be excellent for creating things like wall sections and roofing as well....