![]() ![]() I will archive your instructable for future reference. I've always been fascinated with vacuforms. I too occasional built props as well as doing scenic design and construction for schools and local community theaters. ![]() ![]() I found that after I placed the plastic over the mold, I could use the heat gun to heat the spots which did not get sucked down all the way, so I was still able to get all 12 pieces out of this machine. If I were upgrading this machine, that is the first thing I would replace. If I were to do this again, I would make the platen 2 or 3 inches bigger on each side.Ī vacuum cleaner is a really weak source of vacuum. The model I built was just a bit too big for this vacuum forming machine. I used 3 tiny pieces of MDF to hold the model up without covering any of the air holes. I wanted a clean edge along the bottom I raised the model up a bit so the plastic would be pulled underneath it a little bit. You should also avoid materials that will melt or deform under heat. For a machine this small and weak, that probably won't happen. In bigger and more powerful vacuum forming machines, you want to make sure to build your models out of something strong and solid because materials like Styrofoam can be crushed under the pressure. I used Bondo (a thick type of polyester resin used for auto body filling) to smooth and refine the surface. The model for the phone base itself was built up out of a few layers of MDF and plywood. With plastic as thin as I was using, it was really easy to burn holes through the plastic if I heated up a spot for just a split second too long. I found if the plastic does not pull as tightly over some parts as you would like (either because the plastic was not heated enough in that spot, or because the vacuum is not strong enough), you can heat it up some more with the heat gun as the vacuum is still running. Make sure to bring the frame straight down rather than from the side, or you may stretch parts of the plastic and cause it to tear. The plastic will stretch as it lays over the objects when the frame touches the platen and creates a seal, the vacuum will be able to suck the plastic tightly over the pieces. When the Sintra is fully heated, turn on the vacuum cleaner and place the plastic over your objects onto the platen. (While writing this Instructable, I also learned that Sintra can be softened by submerging it in boiling water for 10 to 15 seconds, which seems like it would heat it more evenly). I clamped it inside the frame and heated it up with my heat gun for a few minutes until the whole piece was very flexible. I was using some Sintra plastic (expanded PVC) for my vacuum forming I had left over from a few years ago. I grabbed some random objects and arranged them on the platen. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |