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 Angle- The wall angle of a mold. This helps in removing the plastic off the mold.
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
- Parts of the machine can reach over 300 degrees C. Don't touch the heater or heat shield surrounding the heater.
- Never put your hand in a position it could be pinched by the molding frame.
- The formed plastic is very hot and sticky. It could stick to you and continue to burn if you touch it.
- Some types of plastics could give off toxic fumes when heated. Check the SDS before working with materials you are unfamiliar with.
Certification
Troubleshooting
Make sure to put draft on your form to prevent sticking. If the plastic is not hot enough it won't pull down over the form.
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 |