Collaborate Disseminate
Vacuum forming is a handy thing to be able to do, and [3DSage] demonstrates how to do a bare-bones system that can form anything smaller than a dinner plate with …read more Continue reading Bare Bones Vacuum Forming, Just Add Plastic Plates
Thermoforming — which includes vacuum-forming — has its place in a well-rounded workshop, and Mayku (makers of desktop thermoforming machines) have a short list of tips for getting the best …read more Continue reading Make Better 3D Printed Molds, For Thermoforming Plastics
What do you do when you find some friends have bought a vacuum forming machine? Make novelty chocolates and ice cubes, of course! This was my response when I had …read more Continue reading Ice Wrenchers, Wrencher Chocolates, And The Vaquform DT2
Surface conductors on vacuum formed parts appear in many hacks, from cosplay armor to 3D touch pads and smart objects. But making them has always been painful. Either they had …read more Continue reading Add Conductive Traces On Vacuum Formed Plastic With 3D Printing
Even if they don’t have one themselves, we’d wager the average Hackaday reader is at least vaguely aware of how a vacuum former works on a fundamental level. You heat …read more Continue reading Vacuum Forming with 3D Printer Filament
[Matterhackers] has a nice video tutorial on using vacuum forming to create plastic items. Sure, you have a 3D printer, but vacuum forming has some advantages if you are making …read more Continue reading Vacuum Forming with 3D Printed Buck Tutorial
Generally speaking, creating custom mirrors is a complex task that involves a lot of careful grinding, and isn’t something to be taken lightly if you need precision results. Just ask …read more Continue reading Making Custom Curved Mirrors at Home
Retrocomputing is as much about physical preservation as it is about electronics and computer science. Plastic is an awful material when it comes to decade-long timescales, and the forces of sun, air and water are unrelenting on these materials. [Drygol] …read more
Continue reading Vacuum Forming Key Cap Covers Doesn’t Quite Work Out
[Will Cogley]’s mechanized gauntlet concept sure has a hypnotizing look to it, and it uses only a single motor. Underneath the scales is a rod with several cams, each of which moves a lever up and down in a rippling wave as it rotates. Add a painted scale to each, …read more
Continue reading Watch This Scaly Gauntlet’s Hypnotizing, Rippling Waves
[CutTransformGlue] recently posted a build video for “Making Rey’s Star Wars Blaster“, embedded after the break. The construction uses layered MDF sheets to build up the blaster, and it’s a treat to see it taking shape, ending with an amazing paint job. It’s a good way to learn about the techniques used to bring such props to life and help you hone your skills. But digging deeper led us down an awesome rabbit hole.
[CutTransformGlue] got plans for Rey’s Blaster from the Punished Props Academy – a prop and costume making team from Seattle committed to “transforming passionate fans into …read more
Continue reading A Trove of Cosplay Prop Making Tutorials and Blueprints