Vacuum molding at home

Today, vacuum molding, or rather, products made using this technology, is becoming very popular. With its help, plastic dishes, packaging, mannequins, paving slabs and much more are quickly and easily made. Using this technology at home will require the purchase of a special machine. The cost of such devices is quite high, and they take up a lot of space. This article will tell you how to create a vacuum molding machine yourself, using a vacuum cleaner and oven.

DIY vacuum molding

Of course, a home-made machine will not be so powerful, so you can’t do bulky items and you will have to spend more time on manufacturing. But such a machine will satisfy the interest and small household needs. Also, this unit is suitable for the manufacture of various models (aircraft, ships, cars). This is a kind of analogue of a 3D printer.

Materials for the manufacture

Vacuum forming begins with the manufacture of the machine. This will require:

• powerful vacuum cleaner;
• oven (to heat plastic);
• wooden blocks;
• drill;
• few screws;
• screwdriver (or screwdriver);
• plywood;
• sealant (silicone);
• plywood or fiberboard (for a working surface);
• aluminum tape;
• material for creating forms (gypsum, wood).

Step-by-step instruction

1. The size of the vacuum machine. The main element of such a machine is the frame (plastic is heated on it). In size, the frame should match the oven. The size of the plastic sheets here also matters. To make the frame you will need wooden blocks.
2. Vacuum chamber Vacuum molding is not complete without a vacuum chamber. She “sucks” the plastic, which then envelops the mold. A vacuum chamber is made from a sheet of plywood or chipboard (16 mm). At its core, it is a box corresponding to the size of the frame. First, you need to make a frame from the bar, and screw plywood to its bottom. To ensure the tightness of the chamber, all joints after assembly are lubricated with sealant. The vacuum chamber also has a work surface where products are formed. The working surface is made of fiberboard or plywood sheet, in which holes are evenly drilled. It is important not to allow the work surface to bend, so it is better to install a spacer in the center.
3. Connect a vacuum cleaner. For the convenience of connecting the vacuum cleaner to the vacuum chamber, you can use the nozzle from the vacuum cleaner. It is screwed to the vacuum chamber with screws, lubricated with sealant or wrapped with aluminum tape. First in the nozzle you need to make a hole for pumping air.
4. Create a form. You can make a shape from various materials: wood, gypsum, polyurethane, etc. If the shape has concave places, then holes must be made in them (0.1-0.5 mm in diameter). This is done so that the plastic "sucks" into the recesses.

Vacuum forming process

After all stages of preparation, the vacuum molding of plastic itself begins directly. All work is done in the kitchen, as you will need an oven. The vacuum cleaner is connected to a vacuum chamber, and a mold is installed on the working surface. In order for the plastic to fit the form to the very bottom, coins can be placed under it.

After that, you need to cut the sheet of plastic in accordance with the size of the frame (the plastic should be thin - 0.1-0.4 mm) and nail it with brackets.

Now you can load the plastic into the oven, preheated to 190 degrees. After the plastic heats up and sags in the frame, it must be removed and installed on a vacuum machine. After turning on the vacuum cleaner, plastic will begin to envelop the mold. The vacuum cleaner should run for about 20 seconds, then you can get the product.

So the item is ready. Now it should be painted and processed at its discretion. This is how vacuum molding works at home.