dosbomber
05-03-2008, 12:59 AM
The DIY CNC might be tough to fit into Systm-episode-sized segments, but how about a DIY Vacuum former?
This is the rig where you clamp a sheet of styrene near a heating element until it starts to sag, then drop it onto a platen with a 3D shape sitting on it, and suck all the air out (a vacuum tank is better, but a ShopVac will work) from between the semi-melted plastic sheet and the platen, let it cool, and you have a shaped sheet of plastic.
Very useful for a lot of things, and takes 1/10th the build time of, say, a CNC router table.
Discussion could include the pros and cons of a vacuum storage tank vs. using a ShopVac, heating element options, and plastics that work well (styrene is a good one) and at what thicknesses.
Just a thought.
This is the rig where you clamp a sheet of styrene near a heating element until it starts to sag, then drop it onto a platen with a 3D shape sitting on it, and suck all the air out (a vacuum tank is better, but a ShopVac will work) from between the semi-melted plastic sheet and the platen, let it cool, and you have a shaped sheet of plastic.
Very useful for a lot of things, and takes 1/10th the build time of, say, a CNC router table.
Discussion could include the pros and cons of a vacuum storage tank vs. using a ShopVac, heating element options, and plastics that work well (styrene is a good one) and at what thicknesses.
Just a thought.