Vacuum forming - has anyone tried it?

[Freeloadeur]

I have a cunning plan but it involves a little bit of vacuum forming. Luckily the interweb is full of How To's but before I start filling the kitchen with noise and fumes I though I'd ask if anyone has done it themselves as the last time I tried was far too many years ago at school.

So has anyone done it more recently than me and has any tips to share?

[dusz]

Depends how many years ago it was since you were at school. In my first job we used to vacuum form prototype fridge liners, this was back in 1984-6. Sometimes they came out OK, other times they were scrap. We had to heat up a sheet, blow it into a bubble, raise the wooden former and then pull the vacuum.
I remember it was difficult to heat the sheet correctly, if you get it too hot in one place it will go thin. If you used too much compressed air the bubble would be too big and if not enough air was used you could not get the former into the bubble.
Do you know any students on a Design Course at University as they may be able to give you some help?

[Andysr6]

Hi, i have a few of these machines in work, (i manage workshops for a number of Design courses), all the work is making the mould, ensure that you have no undercuts, 'verticle' faces should have a slight angle to help with release, any inner indent areas may require addition holes drilled to aid suction to that area (around 2mm holes), you often get a radius at the bottom of the mould (dependent on how good your machine is)and therefore making the mould slightly taller may help. The thinner the material the more detail you will pick up. Styrene is good but can tear fairly easily, PVC is good especially if you want clear. ABS and Perspex can be a bitch. Andy

[mavis cruet]

we vacform a lot at work and ive done some bits for the bike. if its simple small shapes you can make your own vac former using a vacuum and a hot air gun or two. you do need to consider the design of the shape (draw angles, inner and outer radius and 'webbing') what sort of thing are you considering? you can make the pattern from lots of stuff that is heatproof, but different materials and glued seams will expand with the heat and give textures or witness lines.Plaster of paris works well. if youre thinking of anything clear, dont bother unless you get a profesional to do it. if you make the pattern you could try collages or look up modelmakers, most of them have a vacformer but will be pricy.