General Vacuum Forming Questions

[kickback365]

Hey guys I am a prop maker that makes various swords, guns and helmets from my 3d printers. I have always been interested in making molds of my props so I can stop making each on over and over so I'm looking into various ways to mold them. One of them happens to be vacuum forming. With that all being said i have a few questions:
1. can you vacuum form swords and guns and are they strong? I know that they would have to be formed on their side and then glued together but i have no idea if they hold up.
2. can you use the negative mold to do a rotary cast?

 

[Analyzer]

Hey guys I am a prop maker that makes various swords, guns and helmets from my 3d printers. I have always been interested in making molds of my props so I can stop making each on over and over so I'm looking into various ways to mold them. One of them happens to be vacuum forming. With that all being said i have a few questions:
1. can you vacuum form swords and guns and are they strong? I know that they would have to be formed on their side and then glued together but i have no idea if they hold up.
2. can you use the negative mold to do a rotary cast?

As for strength of vaccuformed swords etc.., when you mate the two halves, you could use some spray foam or similar material as a filler so they would not be hollow and help give it a bit of support?

 

[Duncanator]

Vacuforms can be quite strong, but it depends on a lot of factors like the type and thickness of the plastic you use, the shapes that are formed, how the pieces are bonded together; and like Analyzer said, what you may or may not put inside.

I've vacuformed parts out of thick ABS that you could stand on. Even vac-ed 1/4" polycarbonate for a combat robot shell.

If the guns are bulky, they should be plenty strong. Long skinny swords will likely be floppy unless you put something inside.

So.... it all depends...