DIY Vacuum molding machine

[TheRebellionLeader]

Anybody know the thickness of sun glass lenses like from walmart? I am thinking of using that but I don't know how hard it will be I may go thinner but something like that is my desired result

[DaddyPims]

You just saved me a lot of cash. Thank you!

[chrisdegouw]

Do you know what material would result in the best optical properties? I make RC aircraft with First Person Video & I am looking to make a custom enclosure for the video camera. An optical turret so I can move the camera in 2 axis. I have designed the shape I need on Solid works and I can cut a negative of a mold on a cnc machine. Whats important is when I strip the plexiglass from the mold that the glass have the best optical properties & the least distortion when looking threw it.

[xXFIREWIREXx]

@chrisdegouw the thinest acrylic you can buy is 2mm... which is near imposable to vacuum form at home.. the best bet is most likely lexan or polypropoline.

[FLUFFYGREGORY]

can you do it with a large toy

[TheWyndton]

Hi! nice job there! I just want to know If you know whether the material of those transparent printable sheets of plastic would do the job. what do you think?

[golin123456]

Hey. What Kind of media did you use?

[hr1415]

Hello there, Iam Hillary, I bought a PVC Press machine but has failed to mold,any help?

[juvatude42]

Is it possible to form an iPhone shell in it

Sent from

My iphone

[eloid777]

@motabikeboy

f off

[motabikeboy]

@eloid777

its pronounced "fuck off"

[djdavies83]

wow, this is the best one I've seen on here, it worked really well with good detail!

I never thought of just using a simple frame, I was going to use leves to lift a platform.... anyway do you have any plans you could share? I like yours!

it's going in my favouries.

[dj7310]

is this dry carbon fiber you are making

[MrB4dWr3nch]

@dj7310 Huh? maybe a mold for use with carbon fiber

[2degucitas]

awesomeawesomeawesomeawesome

[vyikloo]

Hi, I'm thinking of doing this - is there a reason you cannot use a vacuum cleaner that uses bags? I'm asking because this is the kind of vacuum I have. Also - instead of heating in the oven would it be possible to use a heat gun over the plastic before you switch on the vacuum? Thanks, gd video :)

[meandmyevo]

your baged vacuum should work just fine, and the heat gun thing will "work" , but you'll need to get all the material heated fairly evenly, to avoid non-stretching spots and over-heated/bubbled spots. you would need to be pretty precise, but im sure you could find a way.

[gamerplay]

man im really looking into doing this i kinda saw around the air box little spacers so when u put the polistyrene down it formed better like it kinda went under the form am i right or no, if not that would be a good idea to do so u have a better more then just a flat one

[geekfish]

Whay type of plastic did you find? What type of plastic could I use for canopies...!!! Great job BTW.... Very clean design..!!

[pinter75]

Hi, I use HIPs, High Impact Polystyrene. Model shop styrene sheet or acetate works too.

[geekfish]

Ah... Good thinking.. I was thinking I would have to use 2 liter bottles and stuff. If I can find thick acetate, so much better, I didn't know HIPs existed, thanks....

[eloid777]

ok newbie here,,, HIP... where to get or acetate what it cost etc? for a sheet

need idea of cost per sheet etc

[ROBOCOP603]

@pinter75

What about plexiglass? What temperature do you find best?

[pappumerchant]

hey do you know if you can do with 1" sintra & how big in size can you do

thanks

[burning93]

what kind of plastic do you use and where do you buy it

[zackromack]

yes plz tell

[mog123noblog]

its polistyrene.

[eloid777]

where to buy it? who sells it?

[ScaniaFung]

can I use micowave oven?

[2degucitas]

NO.

[EleastUk]

one loud way to form things but it does two jobs in one (hold plastic in form wiles cooling it down)

way the machines do it at work is the tool raises into the plastic and fans on top cools it down.

one anyoying thing about vacume forming ...is webbing or slight dammaged tool.

[Bootwell]

haha what are the chances, I wanted it for a heli shell as well, now I'm definitely doing this; thanks.

[Naddycat]

Fantastic, what a cool idea. Well done, thank you for posting!

[jameszx7]

how thick is that plastic in the vid?

[tambor74]

poliestireno de alto impacto 0.5 mm,

[SofaKingAndrew]

where do you get the plastic from?

[EyeCheatYouLose]

Good Question.

[DeltaWound]

Internet.

[Ichsan22430]

Would a bagless hand vacuum work? Would any kind of vacuum cleaner work?

[temple696]

Nope a hand vaccum/dustbuster does NOT have enough horsepower or suction to pull properly at all. Even some shop vacs wont do the job if they are older or really cheap ones. You need at least 3 horsepower (hp) or more. More the better, but most people end up using a shop vac that is 3hp the typical kind. A vaccum cleaner is probably more powerful i imagine but try to check HP strength if you can.

[joanpi0]

one question after the vacuum part, how do u cut the piece? I'm a noob :(

[jaythedogg]

Xacto Knife

[ssjgemini]

Fantastic, I've been looking for a good way to make a frame, those Y bolts seem to work awesome, I was thinking about using a clamping mechanism while still having a flat bottom but, your technique seems to be a Great soultion.

[UnorthodoxHumor]

Does the plastic smell after you have cooked it in the oven. I am using styrene 0.08 gauge.

[turahk547]

vacuum forming can work for just a bought anything i'm currently getting my moms permission to use it for a halo armor...

[frederic470]

how much do the plastic sheets cost?

[2916jr]

anywhere from 5.00 to 100.00

[frederic470]

ok....... very discriptive. lol dont bother i found out on my own already

[carnagerpm]

Smart! fuqin Smart

[toxicfrost123]

do you think this would work for toy trains?

[tyhodge07]

very nice, i can tell what you formed too.. i see a heli, lol.. i need to make me another, right now i got a mini one and i need alittle more space, your setup looks pretty clean, i might do something like yours.

[vacuumformer]

Check out my video on using a kitchen oven and vacuum cleaner for vacuum forming. The description has a link to an "Instructible" giving step-by-step instructions for building one. My web site has links to a bunch of other DIY vacuum forming stuff (plans, forums, etc.).