Vacuum Forming setup

Thanks for your help! - DH

No prob.

Happy DIYing!

Mike

I had an occasion to do this at a place where I worked many years ago. Be certain that you have some sort of frame to heat the plastic in since if it is soft enough to form, it cannot be transferred easily from the heater to the vacuum mold. The ABS was soft and floppy at this temperature which was fine on the small sizes (6" x 6") that I used. It will cool off during the transfer so it has to be able to move quickly from the heater to the mold.

IR lamps can produce the heat, but it will not be even. I used an array of four heat lamps and got temperatures high enough to scorch the ABS (I measured 396 degrees F) in order to get enough heat everywhere I needed it. If I had to do it again, I would use a liquid heat bath like silicone oil (expensive) or the 400 degree F peanut oil baths like those used for testing printed circuit boards for delamination. A 6" pull on 1/8" material will require a good vacuum and a draft angle that will avoid excessive thinning or tearing of the material on the sides - you will definitely not be able to get vertical sides.

Good luck and good forming!

Check out Make Magazine Vol 11 page 106 for 'Kitchen Floor Vacuum Former" by Bob Knetzger. This article is available on line at Makezine.com