Vacuum Former
Make: Formech
Model: 508DT
Ace: Needed (Makerhub@georgefox.edu).
Location: The Vault
Description
The Formech 508DT Vacuum Former is a plastic molding machine that utilizes heat and a vacuum to stretch heated plastic over a mold. The vacuum former is great for thin plastic molds, although there are some limitations on the shape and size. The max dimensions for the mold are 17”x19” with a depth of 7.3". The max thickness for the plastic sheet is 0.25" Molds can be made from many types of materials. It's fairly common to see molds made from wood. Molds need to have some draft so they can be removed from the plastic.
Here is an example of this piece of equipment being used.
Documentation
Terminology
- Table- The bed that the mold rests on.
- Clamp Frame-
- Toggle Clamp Screws-
- Draft-
Knowing what the different buttons in the touchscreen operation mean is important in operating the vacuum former. The three primary ones are heat , vacuum , and release . For a full list, refer to the manual.
Manual Media:Manual-508DT.pdf
Training
Overview
The vacuum former can mold up to a 19"x17" square and to a depth of 7.3".
Molds must slant outwardly slightly to ensure that they can be popped out of the plastic after molding is finished.
Demonstration
You will need to demonstrate the safe setup and use of the belt/disc sander. You will be sketching an arc onto a piece of scrap material and sanding up to the line using the disc and belt. Make sure to keep the material moving to prevent burning and tearing of the sanding belt/disc.
Operation
Operation
- Place a mold into the tray and lower it.
- Mold cannot be concave and must slant outwards slightly or it will not be removable from the plastic.
- Place plastic into the clamps ensuring it completely covers the white seals.
- Turn on the heaters. They should take about 15 minutes to warm up.
- Lift the table.
- Turn on the vacuum.
- Let the plastic cool, then hit the release button.
- Lower the table to remove the plastic.
- Reset the table.
Safety
- Sanding creates heat due to the friction. keep material moving to prevent damage to the sanding belt/disc.
- Never put your hand in a position that slipping could cause you to make contact with the belt or disc.
- Never reach over the machine while working or turning off the power. This can be very dangerous as you or your clothing could make contact with the spinning belt or disc.
- Use a brush when clearing sawdust from the tables, not your hands.
- Use light pressure when removing material. Never try to force feed the machine.
- Avoid kickbacks by sanding on the correct side of the disc. Always sand on the downward side of the disc, which is just left of center on a disc rotating counterclockwise. Sanding on the wrong side is dangerous and can pull material out of your hands.
Certification
Troubleshooting
If belts have hole or tears they need to be replaced. Burnt discs need to be replaced.
Maintenance
General maintenance
The following items need to be periodically lubricated:
- Idler slide (use non hardening grease)
- Table trunnion (use non hardening grease)
Specific Maintenance Tasks
| Maintenance Procedure | Frequency | Done By |
|---|---|---|
| Replace sanding Belt/Pad | As Needed | Ace/Tech |