Vacuum Forming Box

thingiverse

UPDATES We've discovered that the 3D printed platform can't handle heat effectively. So we used a piece of MDF board cut to the same size, marked off holes on it using the 3D printed platform, drilled out the MDF with a drill press, and hot glued the MDF platform in place onto the box. It's been working well ever since, creating suction just as effectively without any heat-related issues. This is a 300 x 190 mm vacuum forming box that includes a SketchUp file for resizing parts and visualizing how it all fits together. Also included is a joint to create a heat box, which is essential when using a heat gun alone won't evenly heat up your plastic. With a heat box, you can heat up your plastic faster and more evenly. Printing & Assembly We printed the main sections in halves and friction welded them together. We also added feet that you can hot glue to give it some grip on the table. Inside the box, there are braces to provide extra support for the table. The box section with the vacuum port is included in two files. The box bottom and bed top are single files that need to be printed twice each. You must also print the support twice and place them so they divide the box's interior into thirds. For the heat box, we used foil tape on 5mm thick MDF board, 22mm PVC pipes, and the 3D printed joints included in this project. The PVC pipes were hot glued into place, and 3mm bolts were used to connect the boards and the joints (holes were drilled in the MDF board). Use We've already tested it and it works great with our Panasonic 1600 W - 410 W vacuum cleaner. Heat was provided by a 2000 W Stanley heat gun. We're using HDPE sheets made from milk containers. Vacuum forming takes practice and patience to master, so do some reading before diving into it. Making your own hobby rig is easy, with or without 3D printing, so you should definitely try it before purchasing a larger, more complex system. Print Settings Printer: ExtraBot 3020 Rafts: No Supports: Yes Resolution: Low Infill: 30-100% Notes: Supports are needed for the box sections with the vacuum port to prevent drooping. All other parts can be printed without supports. Extensive friction welding is required to seal the box, add the feet to the bottom, as well as the supports inside. You could probably glue it, but we prefer friction welding. For more information, please see this Hackaday article: http://hackaday.com/2014/12/30/3d-printing-technique-friction-welding/