Vacuum Forming

[Killerf6]

Anyone here do vacuum forming? If so did you build your own machine, or use a commercial unit?

I'm concidering doing some vacuum forming for some custom work but could use some insight into the entire process from making the buck to the actual heating and forming of the material etc.

[pickelhaube]

I to would like some info on this subject

[popeye357]

check with this member: Bar, I think he does his own vacforming.

[Folkwulfe]

I do my own as well, but I keep it to somewhat small pieces. The larger the piece the more difficult it can be. I made my own rig using peg-board, 1" X 2" wood trim and an old shop vac I have in the garage. If you want to learn more, go here http://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/jw_vac.htm

[VMF115]

I love starshipmodeler.

[jeffrowse]

If nature abhors a vacuum, why is there so much of it?

(To get this slightly back on-topic, I once saw an article in one of my Dad's aeromodeller magazines - in about the late seventies! - where someone built himself a vac-former using an old vacuum cleaner as he got fed up paying high prices for decent scale aircraft canopies...sorry but I have no idea how he did it. )

[Folkwulfe]

For canopies, there is a clear sheet that doesn't need vacu-forming. It's called "Theraform" and can be heated over a candle. You then stretch it over a mold and it cools fast. It can then be cut from the sheet. I have used it many times on 1/48 and 1/32 scale aircraft models....the only thing I hate is that it turns frosty if stretched too much while hot. I found an easy fix though...just dunk it in Future Floor Wax a couple of times and it comes back crystal clear when dry.