vacuum forming and high vacuum for case mods

(Sorry, I seem to have screwed up editing this post and lost the original text... this is a rough reconstruction. See the movie in a later post.)

I wrote an "Instructable" on how to make a good cheap upgradeable vacuum former using your kitchen oven and a vacuum cleaner:

http://www.instructables.com/id/E8RW98YF3C4XLCQ/

You can also make a high-vacuum system for it, using a converted bike pump, to get finer detail with thick plastic, for about $50, or add a standalone oven for about $30. The high vacuum system can use a converted bike pump or a thrift-store tire inflator, nebulizer pump, or kitchen food sealer. (For volume production, you'd want to have a "real" vacuum pump, but for making a few sturdy cases, high vacuum can be cheap.)

http://www.hackaday.com/2007/07/01/vacuum-bike-pump/

This stuff and more is linked at my new "Vacuum Former Plans" web site, www.VacuumFormerPlans.com

I recently made a vacuum former myself using nichrome wire heating elements and a dual shop vac vacuum system - it was very strong and could form plastic up to 1/4" thick.

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Originally Posted by tybrenis

I recently made a vacuum former myself using nichrome wire heating elements and a dual shop vac vacuum system - it was very strong and could form plastic up to 1/4" thick.

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I saw the thread that stopped about a year ago, but nothing since then.

Did you post pictures and stuff somewhere?

If you add a high vacuum system, you'll get better detail. (If you need that.)

I made a video of using the vacuum former from the Instructable:

I never really posted pictures of the final vacuum former - my computer is for some reason not allowing me to upload photos anywhere online. Its a big problem for me, otherwise I'd show you the pics. I honestly haven't even been thinking about modding much lately so the vacuum former has been sitting unused for a while now. However, I tried it out with a second shop vac I recently got, so with two 6.5 horse vacuum the thing was incredable. I could actually hang from a sheet of plywood with two handles on it being held by the vacuum.

Ha! That video was awesome! I don't think I have a _real_ need for vacuum forming, but hell, that looked like fun! Can you say.... self made Halloween masks? :p

Tybrenis... what HAVEN'T you made?? lol I mean jeesh, From your own case mod to a cnc machine to a vacuum former to a heat strip for bending plastic to a etc etc etc.

Whats next? Your own custom Unicycle? ...oh hey... a cirque du soleil themed unicycle! :D ;)

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Originally Posted by SnowFire

Ha! That video was awesome! I don't think I have a _real_ need for vacuum forming, but hell, that looked like fun! Can you say.... self made Halloween masks? :p

Tybrenis... what HAVEN'T you made?? lol I mean jeesh, From your own case mod to a cnc machine to a vacuum former to a heat strip for bending plastic to a etc etc etc.

Whats next? Your own custom Unicycle? ...oh hey... a cirque du soleil themed unicycle! :D ;)

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I also have absolutely no need for a vacuum former. It was just cool to make, lol.

Actually, my current project is replacing all of the furniture in my bedroom with my own, hand made solid cherry pieces.

I'd be interested in info on how to make a good cheap strip heater.

I've been thinking I can modify my hot wire foam cutter design a little bit and make a nice one with heat control for about $20 (not including a car charger to use as a high-amp transformer)... but I'd like to see what others have done.

I saw "Tim"'s strip heater in Tybrenis's build log, and it looks a whole lot like what I've got in mind. (I'd probably use stainless steel fishing leader instead of nichrome.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tybrenis

I could actually hang from a sheet of plywood with two handles on it being held by the vacuum.

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With a high vacuum system---even a converted bike pump---you get several times as much forming force, and could hang your whole family, or maybe your car. :twisted: (Briefly, but long enough to suck 1/8" or 1/4" plastic into tighter radii.)

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Originally Posted by drcrash

I'd be interested in info on how to make a good cheap strip heater.

I've been thinking I can modify my hot wire foam cutter design a little bit and make a nice one with heat control for about $20 (not including a car charger to use as a high-amp transformer)... but I'd like to see what others have done.

I saw "Tim"'s strip heater in Tybrenis's build log, and it looks a whole lot like what I've got in mind. (I'd probably use stainless steel fishing leader instead of nichrome.)

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Basically the same thing.