DIY Vacuum Forming

DIY Vacuum Forming

Interested in thermoforming at home? This video has all the details!

Years ago I built vacuum formers as a summer job. About 50 thermoforming machines shipped out in total. Today I try to improve on my old designs with Former #51! Once we build the machine we will test it and then tune it for the best possible performance. After all, vacuum forming has it challenges. If you have any questions about building your own vacuum former, I will attempt to answer all of them in this video. If there is anything I missed, leave a comment!

½” square steel tubing – 96” (1/16″ wall thickness)

Lincane perforated AL sheet 36×36 ¾”

C-Channel 1/16” thickness (104” length needed)

24×48 peg board (unless a smaller sheet is available)

1/2” or 12mm plywood or

7/8” ¼-20 couple nuts X8

2” ¼-20 bolts and nuts X16

4” ¼-20 eye bolts X2 3/8” or ½” 10-24 bolts X40

1” 10-24 bolts x4 5/8” 10-24 nuts (box of 50?)

5/8″ Flat head 10-24 bolts for handle x8

3” L-Brackets X16 ½” 4-40 bolts and nuts (for heat spreader) X14

(4) NYLON wheels at least .2ID – .75OD 1/4″?