Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
This is not best 3d prints kind of stuff because my printing was not nice, because of wrong setting.
But this is something I'm quite happy with final result, so I want to share this.
Idea is to make mould for body to RC Short Course type car and vacuum form RC car body from 1mm Lexan plastic.
A little over a month ago, I started to study the Blender, and when it started to learn it, I bought a 3D printer.
First I print some models from thinggiverse to learn little bit and then I scale my mould 5 times smaller to get it fit to heat plate.
Actual size of mould is about 520x300x190mm, so I have to cut in many parts.
So here is result. You can see that I have too many perimeters, it should have support material and so on
It looks dirty because it has mould wax on the surface
Ok then I heated 1mm lexan to 160 celsius (it is too thick for this size model, but I want to try) and vacuum form mould.
Bubles comes because I did not dry plastic before vacuum forming.
It went very well. Bottom edges in long side flex little bit inside so it was difficult to get out from plastic, but it did not stuck.
And mould is also in very good shape, no damages
This was good test
To real size mould I put some epoxy coating to give it extra strength.
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
Just love that, I find it very clever !
Do you have some pictures of the finalized item ?
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
Hi,
Thanks
Finalized item is almost ready. One piece left to print and then glueing with acetone
Here is test piece and parts from finalized item
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
First test is ready. Lexan went little bit too hot so I have cut it little more than normaly but good result. And it is not easy shape vacuum form
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
Short video from first vacuum forming with this mold
Lexan went little bit too hot...
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
Not good paint, no mask tapes other that windows. Car is Tekno SCT410.
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
I find this facinating, really.
Thanks for the video, that's pretty demonstrative. Is the vacuum tool DIY made ?
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Mould for vacuum forming from ABS
Late late answer but, this vacuum tool is from Robotshop eu
http://www.robotshop.com/eu/fr/machine-thermoformage-lv-1827-220v.html
Last spring I made second SC car body wiith same method, but this time with Esun ABS,
That was a disappoinment. I don't know for sure but maybe they mix something to filament,
so that is quite easy to print. But when I made ABS /acetone mix for glue, there was small
particles which did not melt.
And it's heat resistance is lower than the first mold. Basically if I want nice body shells
I have to sand it after every vacuum.
Few pictures from it
This one which I did not sand before next vacuum...
