Vac Table: Buy vs Build
- Thread starter asok
- Start date
RedTwoX
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>(asok @ May 30 2006, 05:12 PM) [snapback]1253291[/snapback]</div>
You may have answered your own question. I've not seen vaccume form set ups for sale. At least, not anything short of the heavy-duty/industrial variety. Perhaps I don't know where to look (I have to admit I've put little effort into looking. I don't have any place to set it up if knew where to buy one). You might find someone willing to sell their home-built set up.
If anyone does know of a "turn key" vac form set up for sale, I'm sure there are a lot of folks in this forum who would like to hear about it.
You may have answered your own question. I've not seen vaccume form set ups for sale. At least, not anything short of the heavy-duty/industrial variety. Perhaps I don't know where to look (I have to admit I've put little effort into looking. I don't have any place to set it up if knew where to buy one). You might find someone willing to sell their home-built set up.
If anyone does know of a "turn key" vac form set up for sale, I'm sure there are a lot of folks in this forum who would like to hear about it.
SmilingOtter
Master Member
I'm looking into building one myself. I did see this company:
http://www.warmplastic.com/
but it looks like you're paying a lot for all but the tiniest ones.
http://www.warmplastic.com/
but it looks like you're paying a lot for all but the tiniest ones.
Jimbo890
Well-Known Member
On my site, I show you how to make your own for about $300. http://www.tk560.com/vactable4.html Or you can buy one of these for about $3,000. http://www.vacugenic.com/exo24/
Sort of depends how handy your are. If you can do basic construction, you can save a ton of $$ by making your own. IMHO YMMV.
Jim
BTW, I have a discussion board set up just to help others make their own machines:
http://www.tk560.com/phpBB2/index.php
Sort of depends how handy your are. If you can do basic construction, you can save a ton of $$ by making your own. IMHO YMMV.
Jim
BTW, I have a discussion board set up just to help others make their own machines:
http://www.tk560.com/phpBB2/index.php
I can tell you that unless your happy with paper thin parts made from .020 and .010 sheets, you will need a real vacuum pump.
So figure on a few hundreds for a serious Vacuum pump, and if you can holding tanks to pull a vacuum on.
Mine is a 6 CFM and will pull a real hard vacuum that will boil water at room temperatures. It pulls around a real 28 inches or better.
Rich
So figure on a few hundreds for a serious Vacuum pump, and if you can holding tanks to pull a vacuum on.
Mine is a 6 CFM and will pull a real hard vacuum that will boil water at room temperatures. It pulls around a real 28 inches or better.
Rich
Here is another link for building your own:
http://www.halloweenfear.com/vacuumformintro.html
It's what I use & it works well.
http://www.halloweenfear.com/vacuumformintro.html
It's what I use & it works well.
Boba Frett
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'></div>
Cool link :thumbsup
Cool link :thumbsup
I am building one right now based on the instructions from tk560.com. Even though I had reservations about doing all the wiring, Jimbo makes it very easy. Thanks, man..your site is a boon to the hobby. :thumbsup :thumbsup
I would build a Vacuumformer like the one on tk560.com but my garage doesn't have the Power to handle such a powerful machine.
I plan on re-wiring my Garage/Shop to accomodate a more powerful machine, but not right away.
<div class='quotetop'>(BlindSquirrel @ May 30 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]1253482[/snapback]</div>
I plan on re-wiring my Garage/Shop to accomodate a more powerful machine, but not right away.
<div class='quotetop'>(BlindSquirrel @ May 30 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]1253482[/snapback]</div>
Jimbo890
Well-Known Member
I've been asked about the plastic thickness, and if my Thurston James inspired shop-vac powered machine can pull thicker materials. Well, I can pull from .060, .080, and .093 HIPS and have even pulled as thick as .125 Acrylic with no troubles. I agree with what RACPROPS said, but I am pulling stuff like helmets and armor parts, and this system works fine for me. Not much luck with ABS, and I think to pull that stuff you need a decent high-vac rig. The more vacuum the tighter the pull, and the more details you can get. But for starters, you can make one of these little rigs,
http://www.tk560.com/vactable2.html
Cost was less than $75. I did this one to test the waters, and it works, but I wanted to go larger.
http://www.tk560.com/vactable2.html
Cost was less than $75. I did this one to test the waters, and it works, but I wanted to go larger.
wondering what´s the pro´s and con´s between the different types of vac tables
i want to go for a flip system
heater beside the mold/vac table
but not sure if it is a problem when the plastic comes with a bad angle on higher moulds?
other opinion with heater on top
so i can pull it directly down
too much waste of energy while heating up?
anyone have some pics of a professional vac forming system or your private workstation?
i want to go for a flip system
heater beside the mold/vac table
but not sure if it is a problem when the plastic comes with a bad angle on higher moulds?
other opinion with heater on top
so i can pull it directly down
too much waste of energy while heating up?
anyone have some pics of a professional vac forming system or your private workstation?
Light_Tech
Active Member
I started to build one but still working out some of the problems. The main roadblock I hit was getting the plastic heated evenly enough to be workable. But heat guns do wonders in little spots.
Chris
Chris