Vacuum Forming Guide
Before you Form:
Selecting Material to Form With:
The Vaquform manual provides a table of materials. Each material has specific forming temperatures, common uses, and basic properties listed. Use the table to familiarize yourself with each material so you can use one that is relevant to your project!
It is suggested by the Vaquform website that when using PETG, you should use 1.0mm for bigger molds, and 0.5mm PETG for smaller.
Feel free to ask any of the staff on duty questions about the material.
Selecting an Object to Mold:
When selecting an object to mold, please be considerate of the shape of the object. Certain shapes and edges will make it difficult to remove the object from the molded material. This could lead to the molded material getting stuck inside or even ripping, ruining your hard work. Flatter objects tend to mold better than more complicated shapes. For example, the cat object to the right would not be a good item to form because of the shape of the ears.
Not all figures are compatible with the heat of the Vaquform. For example, this 3D printed cat figure unfortunately warped after being vacuum-formed. The cat figure had thin infill, making it fairly hollow on the inside. Please make sure your figure you would like to vacuum form is sturdy so it is not susceptible to warping.
For more information on what you can use to mold with the Vaquform, please check out the official Vaquform 3D Print Mold Guide.
Forming process:
Powering On:
Connect the power cable to the port in the back of the Vaquform.
Turn the main power switch, found right next to the cable, ON.
At the front panel, press the Power Button ON, which is on the left side of the screen.
Loading in Materials
4. Load a plastic material sheet. (The type of material is on the label of the box)
Lower the handlebar and unlock the orange toggle clamp.
Remove the top sheet clamp frame from the lower frame.
Place sheet on top of the lower sheet clamp frame, matte side up.
Return the upper frame, then lock the toggle clamps.
Using the 3mm Allen key, tighten the front and back adjustment screws until plastic sheets are secured, without overtightening.
Vaquform Settings:
5. Use the navigation keys to browse through the plastic types available.
This machine has a pre-set list of plastic material types to choose from.
If you can’t find your plastic material, select MANUAL and input the temperature.
If you select a pre-existing material, the temperature will be automatically displayed.
To change temperature, you can increase and decrease using navigation keys.
Settings Menu:
6. Select the thickness (K) with navigation keys. This machine only allows 3.0mm - 0.2mm sheets.
7. Adjust the Vacuum Tuning, which controls the airflow of the vacuum.
For higher air suction, increase V. For higher pressure, decrease V.
Heating the Machine:
8. Raise the handlebar until it catches on the four heater magnets. Hold it in place with the black plastic bar stopper.
9. Place the item you wish to make a mold of on the plate below the plastic.
Forming the Material:
10. Press the orange button on the right of the screen to START, the plastic sheet will begin to heat.
11. Once the machine “beeps," the plastic sheet is heated. The vacuum will automatically switch on, and the handlebar must be lowered immediately. It will say "Lower Bar Now" on the menu.
Make sure the linkages lock and a seal is made between the lower unit and the sheet clamp gasket. This will prompt COOLING DOWN mode.
Removing the Sheet & Finishing the Project:
12. When the plastic has cooled, you will hear three beeps, signifying it is ready to be removed. Unclip the toggle and remove the sheet.
CAUTION: Surface is hot
13. Once the sheet is removed from the machine, you can remove the item from the mold. Now you have a completed mold!
