How to Make Your Own Plastic Vacuum Former

Make a plastic molder using parts from around the house By Adam Harris

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Figure A: A mini R/C car body copied with a peanut butter jar vacuum former

Plastic vacuum formers are an important part of the prototyping process. If you need a nice plastic robot body or custom case for a project you are doing, get your tools, ’cause this project is easy to build and fun to play with.

Vacuum formers are based on a simple concept. They use the power of a vacuum to suck heated, gooey plastic sheets very tightly around an object you place in them, making a 3D copy of pretty much whatever you want.

Plastic vacuum ...

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