Vacuum Forming 2012!

Vacuum forming, or thermoforming plastic with the use of negative air pressure, can be done simply and cheaply. I have a small project that is a very simple shape. It is a "light box" --a simple shape to mix and bounce light around in and have it come out evenly-- to fit behind the "circuit wall" of the Moebius Models 18" Jupiter II. I am planning on including this in a after-market kit for that model. The circuit wall is a mess in the kit and I have an improved version with lighting-- trying for early 2012!
What's dfferent about this vac-forming vid from all others, is that I make a mistake and show how you can recover from it. No throwing away bad "shots"-- just try again!
That horrible loud noise is my 29-year-old vacuum cleaner roaring in the background.
When you can, check out the Kingston Vacuum Works at:
warmplastic.com
and specialty eletroncs for modelers at:
fedoratron.com

Don't forget to see other very useful lighting for modelers at ModelersBrand.com from my resinated chum ModelManTom!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• DIY
• vac-forming
• thermoforming
• JupiterII
• Moebius
• Models
• plastic
• modeling
• LEDs
• model
• lighting
• miniature
• aftermarket
• kits

[MrChief101]

@elazarn2 Not very much, if at all. You're not supposed to eat the plastic. Setting it on fire has the usual common-sense warnings. There is a vapor that comes off, which is water in the form of steam. No doubt some volatiles come along with it, but it's no worse than standing on a Manhattan street corner for 2 minutes-- in fact, to form one thing takes about 2 minutes. Since this is my kitchen, I have baked a pizza pie on one level and softened some styrene on another-- no complaints!

[MrChief101]

@OriginalTessaMessa Oh, you kid! Well, the behavior of warmed up sheets of styrene is not an every-day thing. And I do get a little kick every time it wraps itself around whatever. A bigger kick when it's a good wrap! The few times I have had customers in the Test Kitchen, they have gasped and smiled like a kid at the process.

[OriginalTessaMessa]

It's maaaagic!

I kid, I kid. It's cool to see that process.

[elazarn2]

Very cool. I have to wonder how toxic that process is, though.