how to make a vacuforming table

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aww sheet
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how to make a vacuforming table

Post by aww sheet » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:50 pm

i use the vacuforming for make retro headlights, but it can be used to make any appearance part. its also an easy way to make molds for fiberglassing and c/f parts.

for those of you who haven't seen my threads; all it is, is taking a sheet of heated plastic, and laying it over an object. at the same time a vacume is sucking the plastic around it to make a replica.




due to my small oven i was limited. so i found that a 17"x17" frame a work space would be the best size for me.

so heres what you need

3 -24"x24" sheets of wood.
2 sheets of wood to make a frame (size depends on you, i chose 1" bigger than my work space 18"x18")
1 vacuum nozzle
silicone
wood glue
nails
saw
drill w/ 1/4" bit
1 roll of wind trim

-take your first sheet of wood and outline a 17"x17" perimeter
-drill 1/4" holes about a half inch or less apart from each other throughout the perimeter.
-take you 2nd sheet of wood and outline the same size perimeter, and cut it out.
then cutout a section all the way out to the edge tothe size of the chosen vaccum nozzle size.
-the 3rd sheet doesn't get modified at all, rather acts as a base.
-attach the 2nd sheet to the 3rd with wood glue (enough to make an air tight seal)
-take the section that was cut out of the 2nd sheet. cut it into 1/2" wide strips.
-take those strips and place them (staggered) in the middle of the to assembled sheets. This is to make sure the air is flowing evenly
-Place nozzle in section cut-out and seal with silicone.
-Attach top board with holes via wood glue and two nails in each corner to the two assembled sheets of wood.
-and now you have your vacuum table. everything is pretty much sandwiched together.
-take window sealant and attach it around the perimeter of the work area. This is to make sure that it will get a good suction when the plastic meets the table.

See diagram.
i made this up in paint so, sorry if it looks bad. these are the 3 sheets of that make up the vacuforming table

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Mat00ES
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Post by Mat00ES » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:58 pm

awesome, I might give it a shot if I ever decide to do my retros.
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mrgto68
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Post by mrgto68 » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:07 pm

Wow! That is so cool! Please tell me more great guru of vacuforming.

occasional demons
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Post by occasional demons » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:25 pm

Bill
Olha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
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aww sheet
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Post by aww sheet » Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:38 pm

mrgto68 wrote:Wow! That is so cool! Please tell me more great guru of vacuforming.
thats why you're not getting your shop vac back
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occasional demons
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Post by occasional demons » Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:14 pm

aww sheet wrote: thats why you're not getting your shop vac back
Oooo, that really sucks! Or perhaps not!

:-k I wonder if a shop vac could vacuform it self into a nice shiney glob. :twisted:
Bill
Olha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester

NickKo
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Post by NickKo » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:31 am

Nice write-up. :thumbup:

Looks inexpensive to make, as well.

Where do you get the plastic from ? Hobby store ?? Online ??
What type of plastic ?? (there are many many different grades)

- Nick
-1998 2-dr SOHC MTX= 57mm TB; Maddog STS
-2000 Ply.LX w/MTX = Maddog STS; CAI; 2.5 exh.; 60mm T/B
-2001 ATX w/Syked PCM + Magnum header
-2001 ACR w/SRT T/B bored out to 55mm

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mrgto68
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Post by mrgto68 » Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:16 am

All kidding aside this guy really knows how to make retro headlights. I've seen his work firsthand and the quality is excellent. Lots of customization possibilities available. Check his for sale threads for examples of his work. :rockon:

aww sheet
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Post by aww sheet » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:20 pm

NickKo wrote:Nice write-up. :thumbup:

Looks inexpensive to make, as well.

Where do you get the plastic from ? Hobby store ?? Online ??
What type of plastic ?? (there are many many different grades)

- Nick
i've used acylic .080 thick. you can get that at hoe depot or lowes. but i currently use polystyrene .060 thick. it is much easier to work with and 3x cheaper. unless you have a plastic distributor in your area; you'd have to order online. fortunately there a place the next street over from me
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occasional demons
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Post by occasional demons » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:46 pm

Well they are out. No clear, only translucent white.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#polystyrene/=39y8wa

Nothing clear here, either.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#acrylic-sheets/=39yarn

I suppose if it were for something other than headlights tho.

Meh, it's a start.
Bill
Olha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester

NickKo
2009 Gold Contributor
Posts: 2248
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:24 am
Location: IL./WI.border

Post by NickKo » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:10 pm

aww sheet wrote: i've used acylic .080 thick. you can get that at hoe depot or lowes. but i currently use polystyrene .060 thick. it is much easier to work with and 3x cheaper. unless you have a plastic distributor in your area; you'd have to order online. fortunately there a place the next street over from me
occasional demons wrote:Well they are out. No clear, only translucent white.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#polystyrene/=39y8wa

Nothing clear here, either.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#acrylic-sheets/=39yarn

I suppose if it were for something other than headlights tho.

Meh, it's a start.
Thank you both for the info. :thumbup:

- Nick
-1998 2-dr SOHC MTX= 57mm TB; Maddog STS
-2000 Ply.LX w/MTX = Maddog STS; CAI; 2.5 exh.; 60mm T/B
-2001 ATX w/Syked PCM + Magnum header
-2001 ACR w/SRT T/B bored out to 55mm

Official "I'm Going to Drive My Neon till it Dies" Club #000009

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