17.12.09

Vacuum Table

4' x 4' Vacuum Table (Photo Cred: Stelter Creative)

The design and build of a DIY industrial vacuum table used to vacuum form materials. I currently cannot find the capacity from people who do this sort of thing without hitting an arm/leg prices. These things tend to sell for around 12K minimum (for a device with 16ft^2 formable area).

General needs:
- effort
- material
- heat
- mechanism
- art
- effort

Semi-specific needs:
- electric heaters
- reflectors for electric heaters
- frame w/clamps to hold sheet being molded (for this specific instance the sheet will be 2 2/3' x 6')
- vacuum platen (2 2/3' x 6')
- platen gasket
- adhesives
- surge tank
- vacuum pump
- hoes/fittings
- some solid method to measure temp across the sheet (infared gun probably)
- a consistent method of lowering the heated sheet onto the mold (both with regard to speed and the sheet being level as it is lowered)
- 2 good form molds (either carved foam with fiberglass overlay or carved wood)
- electricity
- reading
- time





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