Webmaster at 03:31, 6 September 2019

2019-09-06T03:31:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:31, 5 September 2019
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	* http://www.gdiy.com/projects/vacuum-thermoform/index.php?lang=en		* http://www.gdiy.com/projects/vacuum-thermoform/index.php?lang=en

	== Current Progress **		== Current Progress ==

	* A 24x24" vacuum box was designed and built. It uses 2 shop-vacs to provide adequate suction across the entire build surface		* A 24x24" vacuum box was designed and built. It uses 2 shop-vacs to provide adequate suction across the entire build surface

Webmaster: Created page with "Data Collection and project tracking on Vacuum former == Data Collection == * For the Vacuum Former, I feel a DIY approach would be better. ** A simple vacuum box using a sh..."

2019-09-06T03:31:24Z

Created page with "Data Collection and project tracking on Vacuum former == Data Collection == * For the Vacuum Former, I feel a DIY approach would be better. ** A simple vacuum box using a sh..."

New page

Data Collection and project tracking on Vacuum former

== Data Collection ==

* For the Vacuum Former, I feel a DIY approach would be better.
** A simple vacuum box using a shop-vac seems like the easiest route for forming
*** Like this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Vacuum-Former-Box-30/
** For heating the plastic, an insulated box with a quartz heater seems like a safe and simple solution
*** Like this: https://youtu.be/maH5Ech0wK8?t=3m31s
*** Using a timer switch can prevent the heater from inadvertently being left running too long: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Westek-15-Min-In-Wall-Countdown-Timer-White-TMSW15MW/203675434
*** Placing the heater overhead of the plastic would improve the safety, since the plastic would be unable to drip onto the heater
** For a more polished design, these seem like good plans: http://www.build-stuff.com/ (Used by Adam Savage on Mythbusters)

* Generally nichrome wire arranged on an insulator, but there may be other ways to improvise. Not very safe I suppose, without a protective grid of some kind. I think something could be done with quartz heating tubes (a la cheap infrared heaters) or possibly even high output halogen worklight bulbs.

* http://www.gdiy.com/projects/vacuum-thermoform/index.php?lang=en

== Current Progress **

* A 24x24" vacuum box was designed and built. It uses 2 shop-vacs to provide adequate suction across the entire build surface
* The heating box was built out of cement board and a metal frame. It used several feet of nichrome wire, plugged into 220 single phase outlet, as the heating element
** The wire was unable to produce enough heat to effectively melt/soften the plastic. An oven heating element was purchased to replace the DIY nichrome and hopefully apply additional heat
*** If it is found that more control is required, an oven element control unit could be easily added

Projects/Vacuum Former - Revision history

Webmaster at 03:31, 6 September 2019

Webmaster: Created page with "Data Collection and project tracking on Vacuum former == Data Collection == * For the Vacuum Former, I feel a DIY approach would be better. ** A simple vacuum box using a sh..."