those of you with links to good vacuum forming guides, post them here! if you've completed the guides, post comments about the finished product. http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=404 thats the best one i have i'm looking to mod a controller [basically add a clay or something to form it to my hand, then vacuum form plastic over it. i've considered heat issues, but now i need to build the machine] also what kind of plastic do you use?
Vacuumania! I dunno if you've seen these but Google coughed up tonnes, keyword: "diy"/"home-made thermoformer" OR "home-made vacuum form"/"ing". http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~wmayol/resources/nacipobre/ http://www.tki.org.nz/r/technology/curriculum/rsnz/vacuum_e.php http://members.aol.com/GCGassaway/vacuform.htm http://www.studiocreations.com/howto/vacuumtable/ http://marvin3m.com/vacuum/ http://www.alstevens.com/ventriloquism/vacuum.html The materials range from "styrene" (probably polystyrene) sheet, to acrylic in various gauges, although I remember always using acrylic in secondary school. If you use acrylic, then color would be another dimension that you could factor in. Imagine a custom-formed controller casing in a UV hue with a LED stuck up its side (if that's your thing). Take care when heating the sheet, use gloves, open all windows and turn on a fan. And also, either if you're using a heat gun, or an oven (best, because the heat is even) or a stove top (one guy actually used this method), don't overheat. Bubbles will form on the plastic and ruin your project.
