Oh, You Are SO Getting One! Vacu-Forming For The Masses
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2021
- Welcome to the world of Vacu-Forming - In your own home! Yes, this incredibly cheap little machine makes creating any hollow plastic part a cinch. And it's fun! Enjoy!
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I've added and then removed those from my eBay shopping basket so many times. They're very tempting.
I made my own a couple years ago. Used a cheap toaster oven and a normal vacuum cleaner, just had to build a frame to hold the plastic, and a hollow box with holes in it.
Clive, you really need one if these!
Think about all of the stuff you can make.
@@pear7777 - An excellent suggestion!
@@ATMAtim ... a poor Persons' Printer-? aend, as fot the plastic waste that could be recycled✓repurposed...
Fran kills it with most subtle pun ever- "I'm so impressed."
----------- way better than de pressed
EEEKK !!!
Personally Im impressed by the moulds, the machine itself kind of sucks though.
This reminds me of a toy I got for Christmas when I was a young boy. It was called VACUFORM, which I think was made by Mattel Toys! Oh what fun I had with it! When my son was about the same age, believe it or not, a new version of the same toy was being sold, and of course he got it for Christmas! The only thing was, at the time, Nintendo was selling the Game Boy, and that was the only thing he wanted to play with. I got to replay with the new VACUFORM! I relived my past, while he played with the future!!!
I had one of these as a kid (6-7yo) made by Mattel called a Vac-U-Form!!
I remember those. A friend had one. I t
As did I !!! Remember doing the racecar? Formed in two parts and you cut them out and glued the bottom/top together. Lots of fun, waiting for the plastic to get soft and flipping it over and operating the hand vacuum lever like mad!! Fun memories.
I too had one of the early ones in 1962. I and my friends made small airplanes, using up all the materials that came with the toy within a couple of hours. Then I found out that the replacement "Official Mattel" materials were difficult to find and way more expensive than my mother wanted to spend. So my new toy was packed away until later in the year when a Christmas gift was a package of material sheets. This time, I chose not to invite the neighborhood friends in to use the toy.
My cousin had one and I singed my arm on it in 64’. Our toys kicked ass back then. The dumb kids didn’t make it.
Yes, they were so cool
I did vacuum forming for a number of years as a profession with much larger parts. Also some as a hobby at home. Used a wooden box for a vacuum base under the mold in both circumstances. One box per mold, with small vacuum holes drilled just around the mold's outside edge. I actually did this in an oven with a vacuum cleaner! One thing you can use for a mold is Durham's Water Putty which is similar to plaster, but much stronger to finish off. Found in any hardware store.
I did the same thing in the Industrial Design Lab at my University, and it would take 36x42 sheets.
Miss it.
So, Yep Fran!
Build a box big enough for automobile dash pad molding.
I had a toy version of this machine in the 60's. I still have a vacuum sealed baby seahorse that I found on the beach (It was already dead). It came with clear plastic sheets so you can view the object inside. Great fun. Love your enthusiasm for stuff like this and the Plasma Globes.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.This outfit is a little more fancy than the one that I had when I was a kid back in the Sixties!
Fran is almost as excited as I would be .
Back in the early ‘90s my school ran a competition that was a joint venture between the physics department and the craft (what many would know as shop) department. The task was to design a wheel of set dimensions, that would be made out of timber and then vacuum formed in styrene four times over. These would be attached to a metal chassis that carried a building brick. The course it had to run on was down a kiddies slide (released by pulling a chock away from the front wheels, so you couldn’t give it a push), and along the tarmac in front of that. The winner had to have their wheels survive the drop off the end of the slide intact, and roll the furthest from the slide. Weeks of prototyping was allowed beforehand, and it pretty much taught us that the wheels needed to be spoked/ribbed, that the design had to be well balanced (i. e. that the design had to be drawn out, and carved into the wooden former, with precision), and that reducing the rolling resistance of the wheel (by having the wheels have a small lip that contacted the surface it was running on) enabled less friction and so a greater distance to be achieved.
A great little project, that taught us that vacuum forming was also cool.
I came second in the competition, by basically copying the wheels of a Bugatti Type 35 racing car, from the 1920s.
As I remember in the early 1960's Matel had a vac-u-form. It did what your machine does, except it had a hand vacuum pump.
It was fun making toys and things.
try turning the vacuum on before dropping the plate the plastic cools very rapidly. Great content as always!
and maybe not turning the heater away before its lowered?
@@Ramog1000 I also use a hot air gun to assist the uneven bits, although my machine is fully home made, it does a similar job with the same niggly problems.
Been vacu-forming for nearly 40 years. Actually have one of these, which is dwarfed by my large 3' x 4' commercial machine.
Letters are too close together. General Rule of thumb is you shouldn't draw any deeper than the space / opening you are pulling into. Either the plastic won't pull in, and if it does will get too thin and possibily pop holes... in which case you lose vacuum and the piece.
Tip1 : Keep a heat gun handy to heat spots that don't pull all the way.
Tip2: Place your molds on piece of screening (or a porous cardboard if you need a smooth surface) to even out the vacuum around the mold.
I must say, vacuum forming is such a simple and easy process, it really is a wonder that it's never really took off in the maker community in a bigger way, especially when you consider this is a perfect way to make moulds for casting resins.
That is awesome. Now I’m going to be thinking about all the things in my house that i could vacuum-form all day, trying to talk myself into getting one! Lol!
I worked as a technician at a British grammar school for 15 years in the design department.
We used vacuum forming extensively you actually get very good at judging when two remove the heat with experience, the use of some form of release agent may be useful to you we used talcum powder.
I’d love one of these for making chocolate and candy molds. ☺️
“DANGER, HIGHT TEMPERATURE!” Of course I need one ;-) thanks a lot Fran!
Is there no love for that blue hammertone finish?
Hammer Time! Sorry...Hammer Tone!
That's really what that color's called? I think it's beautimous.
I was wondering if anybody else was digging in that on not.. LOVE me some hammertone paint! 😍
The top might not be getting enough suction. Regardless, I seriously want one!
Try Leaving the heat element over the plastic as you Vacuum the plastic down & then move it over.
I saw the same video by Adam and now have one I got from Micro Mark. Plan to make chocolate molds from 3D printed pieces.
------------- cool ....prior to stamping out 3D chocolate candies.....may I order a couple grilled cheese sandwiches ------- w/dill pickles. hi F-L
Great idea, John! Ones imagination is the limit to the shapes that could be molded.
"Lenses and top-coverings on objects"
Yes, I have a 1/32 scale F-22 that I installed lights in, and super-detailed, but, someone flipped it over and the perfectly formed, clear-gold-tinted, gap-filled, faired, and polished canopy fell, and cracked at the apex. So I guess I need one of these!
Nice touch, using Lambda " λ" in the word "Lab".
I'll give you credit for a physics-pun there, since "Lambda" is usually used to denote heat conductivity in thermal equations, and heat conductivity definitely plays a part here.
These are fun little machines. When heating the styrene needs to actually droop considerably depending how thick you're using. Try to get the mold more centered in the Y axis as well.
I'm hoping FranLab chocolates could be a thing in the future!!
Long ago I cobbled together something (probably from an old Popular Mechanics magazine article or similar) to vacuum form something at home. It's one of those processes where you can make interesting parts with something you can build yourself for almost nothing.
Your theme song at the end of your videos always puts a smile on my face. You should be a part time Jazz singer Fran.
Had a machine/ toy like this in the 60's!!! Wow
I think the ball bearings might be so you can modify where the heat exits and create extra vacuum in spots? This is so one of those tools that has my mind racing for things I could use it for. I can't wait to see what you do with it! Thank you Fran!
I had one as a kid. Sometimes it didn't seal well so didn't always get a good form of the pattern. It was the hand pumped toy that actually worked.
Wow that vacuum former *is* cheap! Thanks for the tip Fran! I've got a whole list of projects I want to make with this.
Awesome !! - my initial thought is to lower the two rows of letters from the top (center them) and you would have better results. Neat and cheap! For $100 definitely a buy, not build unless I needed something much larger.
ABS, a flavor of styrene, is what I used to use making parts for vehicles. It was fun learning to design the molds and always seemed like magic when it worked. Yes, you need air holes but also need to allow for draft angles in corners. You can't pull an inside 90 degree corner. If you did the material would be super thin. The plastic also doesn't like vertical features. allow 2-3 degrees draft so the plastic doesn't stick to the mold.
Nice bit of kit - Back in the 70s used to plunge-mould canopies for model aircraft using the kitchen toaster or grill to soften the plastic - Adult supervision required if you don't want the interesting scars I still have
Monday morning coaching suggestion. Use a little silicone spray on the mold to use as a release compound. It will also let the poly-sheet form around the mold more easily. The silicone may even extend the life of the pump. Add a sheet metal "Fran-frame" with small handles around the top of the mold frame to lift out the hot sheet. That way you won't burn your fingers. I am thinking this tool could be used make molds to recreate replica antique radio knobs. Thanks for the video.
You could make some giant acrylic FranLab dice with those!
The sag is your friend.
As the plastic sags, the center gets farther from the heat while the edges are still up against the element. You've really gotta leave it there to bake past your comfort zone because the frame sucks the heat away from the edges
That is great, Fran When I saw Adam's video, I commented that I remembered using colored letters to form signs when we used a vac table in shop class. What a great price on that thing.
I think the ball bearing's serve two purposes. One they fill holes that don't need to be open and secondly they sort of act as tents to make sure the vacuum is getting all around your part.
I know I am only one of a quarter of million subscribers, but Fran knows me so well.
Back in the Phactory! Awesome!
100° outside? Jeez, no thanks!
I think your green A is actually a V. No matter. Love that the ‘HOT’ warning label failed because of the heat! :D
I was looking at vacuum forming some years ago when we had to make a prototype battery pack in the shape of a horseshoe. The idea was to form the outer case by vacuum forming, add the cells, connections, thermal fuse and finally pot with black epoxy. In the end, the supplier of the cells was able to do it, which saved me the bother! I still fancy a go at that game, though!
Try unscrewing the handle in order to close the lid completely
you can also massage the plastic down on the vacuum bed when it's still warm with a utensil or some gloves, used to make armor with a massive one.
That's pretty neat. I think maybe a bit more space around the sides could improve the vacuum there, and perhaps doing things a bit faster, maybe leaving the heater in place while lowering it.
It looks like you need to be careful to have exposed holes all the way around your outer edges.
I guess holes define its resolution, maybe you can put a plate with smaller holes in there to imrove it.
You actually don't but there's definitely a learning curve.
or have even distribution of holes, maybe
Yes but they can be really small and hidden in the corners so they don't show on the final molding.
Worked with them in education for 30 years.
Took me back to school, Mr Foreman contrived all sorts of plastic shaping and moulding tools.
Sorry to hear that you had to drill a hole in your A, constipation is never fun.
I'm so glad that l live in a flat now, with no shed, I'd be filling it up with all these contraptions that you use so expertly.
HMS2 channel often uses a vacuform to make miniatures. very impressive techniques on making molds
I wonder if it'd work better to keep the heater in place and turn on the vacuum pump before dropping it down so it has zero cool-down time between heating and forming?
I was laughing so hard watching you try to get the perfect result on this vacuum forming machine, you really inspired me to get one as it's been setting in my wishlist on Aliexpress for 3 years.
Don't forget kids- making molds for plastic parts is a viable alternative to 3D printing. Especially as tabletop rotomolding comes to the fore. I'm growing old. And moldy.
Fran just score the styrene with a sharp blade (scalple), and fold back ... it will snap easily.
Keep a heat gun handy to spot-reheat that top left corner as the vacuum runs. Also, try it exactly as written in the instructions once - including the steel balls. It may work better.
My aunt has a huge version of that machine that runs on 220v. It was sold for making vacuum formed signs. Will make signs almost 2’x3’…
That white styrene is really good for lighting up from the back. Get nice soft glow, just don't melt it haha.
I had a vacu-form toy from Mattel when I was a kid 😊
Hey! FRAN LAB ice! 👍
Fran Lab ice cubes are comming
A very neat and handy unit.
Try turning on the vacuum before you drop it. That little extra time will reduce cooling and should help. Also it looks like the heater is not quite getting to the top edge. Maybe preheat that edge with a blow drier then load it in the machine normally. Hopefully this will help even it out. Stuff to try. Keep the great videos coming!!
Oh, the fun!
We had a Kenner? Mattel? Vacu-forming/thing-maker Deluxe set!
Heater on one side, platen and pump on the other.
Even had 12 thing-maker molds!
Pour in the edible goop, heat it up, turns into rubbery edible play-time!
Edible?
One of the molds was an ‘eye’, if I remember correctly.
i love the used one got for our local makerspace like 9 years ago.
Thanks Fran from FranLab. You have sooo many gizmos and gadgets. I love it!
Awesome stuff, Fran! That does look like fun.. I've been thinking about getting one. Hell, for a 100 bucks, you really can't beat it. 😎
Awesome toy, you can make great TV. Dinner trays for lunch time!🤓
Use a handheld heat shield you can use to regulate the thermal exposure from the heating element to even out the cold areas.
Yeah ! Fran back at the factory !
It would probably make sense to turn on the vacuum before pulling down the plastic, to avoid the plastic cooling when it touches the stuff bellow before it gets sucked into place.
Wow. Really fun watching you play with your new form machine. Good luck with all your ideas and wishing you much success!👏🌞🤞😀
Man do I love tech! Always interesting and fun, thanks Fran!
The most difficult part of vacuum forming is getting the cat to sit still long enough.
Whoa, that is awesome!
might be worthwhile making/modding your own heat head for that. more uniform heating and better temp control.
So cool! I have zero use for one…. But still totally want one 🤣
I so so wish I could afford this to make custom food moulds! A 3D printer and a vacuum former!! The possibilities are ENDLESS
You’re supposed to turn the suction on _before_ pressing down. Also trim the tape around the F. You’re not getting enough suction there.
Coming soon: FranLab ice cube trays :D
Omg sooo awesome! 👀
So cool. All sorts of uses
I saw the adam savage video but i like that you did one too , It did look cool enough to have a play with
Already have a vacuum and a heat gun. All I had to do was build a plenum box and a frame to hold the plastic sheets.
You have to waggle that heater element a little from side to side so it gives a more even IR heating job. That or replace the heater with one with a larger surface, not a cheap small oven element, so there is a heated steel plate to provide even heating.
Fun tool! There are so many things that could be made with that.
Very cool Fran. They will sell out for sure now.
I can't wait to see _Fran Lab_ ice cubes. :)
Wow, that's so cool.
watch out for those hight temps
I “so” don’t have any need for this thing!! 👍👍👍
Looks like fun! Make sure it is eathed and fused lol. The wiring in some of that stuff is just scary.
I still have my original Mattel machine. It was hand pumped vacuum that you had to re-grease every so often, and had "special" plastic sheet in various colour and thickness. Was always wondering where to get more sheets. It was always an "art" in getting the temp and the pumping right. Would re-melt the sheets if I did not like the molding.
I can think of many things you could do with that, plus it looks fun. 👍🏻
Awesome indeed.
i was just thinking about picking one of these up to make windows for some custom models i have
Had one when I was a young boy in the 60s. I can still smell it in my mind.
So awesome 🤩
If you press down the corners gently, with a popsicle stick just as the vacuum starts might give a sharper result. maybe the vacuum is not powerful enough to suck down the slightly rigid (un-melted) part of the sheet.
Seems to me that having a heat gun handy could help to apply heat to the areas that are not settling as well while the vacuum is on. That's what I would try.
Now you have to make Fran lab Jell-o's, in the Fran Lab Kitchen. :-) New series, coming soon. :-)
Wasn't there a toy vacuform machine back in the '60s or '70s? I vaguely remember seeing one...
I had one for years. It was made by Mattel.
@@darrellpalmer I had one too. That little toy performed the whole process -- and better than that "professional" model.
I'd leave the heating element in place until the form had finished setting
Not a very exciting video. Stareing at the top of the heater head.
Thanks Again.
To get those tricky areas that didn't quite heat up enough I wonder if you could use a heat gun to soften up those areas while the vacuum pump is running?
When I was a kid back in the late 60's or early 70's, I had a toy vaci-form made by Kenner? (I'm guessing) The vacuum pump has hand driven. it made almost good crisp impressions of whatever. I remember all of the problems you are having. Can you leave the heater over the plastic until you are done with the vacuum forming? Thanks for the memories.
How FUN!!
It looks like the top isn't being heated as much as the rest of the plastic as that is where the connections to the heater are, and that doesn't have any heater element in it so it doesn't heat up.
Just need to position your mold a little lower in the tray, or help heating the top with a heat gun just before vacuuming.
Overall.... looks neat!