Vacuum Former (oz14905)

About this Plan

Vacuum Former (MAN article title: "How to Vacuum Form: A fast, easy method!").

Quote: "Mary, Here is a construction article [and drawings] for a cheap, quick and effective vacuum former. I do not know if y’all have any interest in this kind of article. If you do, this is my design and article and you have my permission to post it on your Outerzone site."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "DIY Vacuum-Forming Machine. You know all those models you wanted to build, but did not attempt because they required a vacuum formed canopy? You remember reading about all manner of complicated vacuum formers that took a month to build and cost as much as a seven channel transmitter? Got $20.00 for materials, a few hand tools and an afternoon? Then it is about time you started vacuum forming!

Get the vacuum cleaner with a hose from your home closet. If you can turn the vacuum cleaner on, put your hand over the end of the hose and it sticks to your hand, you are in business. If not, you either need a new vacuum cleaner or to change the bag. No, your shop vac will not do. It does not have the needed suction...

You need to decide how big an item you are likely to want to vacuum form. I build peanut scale and up to about 30 in wing span models. If you build much larger models, you can easily make some changes to this design or consider making your canopy in two pieces.

I made my plenum to use the 12 in picnic plates as a cheap, readily available source of plastic. You can easily make your plenum larger. There are plenty of large sheets of .02 - .03 in thick PET G plastic, that is great for vacuum forming clear canopies, available from Amazon.

If you want larger canopies, or other vacuum formed parts, build a larger plenum and plastic holder. It will still work, but you just left the $20.00 materiel territory and are on your own!

Except for a place to plug in the vacuum cleaner hose, there is no point in building a box to just have to suck all the air out of, before the forming starts. You will be plugging the hose into the part of the bottom of the plenum that hangs over the edge of the table. It does not appear to make any difference whether you plug the hose into the center or the corner of the plenum. What air there is, is evacuated very quickly and the forming is done in a split second. The two 4 inch C-clamps hold the plenum in position on the table or counter edge..."

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Planfile includes article.

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