Anyone ever vacuum form plastic?

[menace]

i wanted to build a couple new bodies for my RC car fleet and have read up on this technique.  has anyone evr done it? tips tricks?  where to get materials (cheap)  thx.

read more about it here:
http://www.studiocreations.com/howto/vacuumforming/

[ErikRuud]

I vacuform windows for my slot cars.  A friend of mine does lexan slot car bodies.

Here is a more detailed page: http://www.tk560.com/vactable4.html

Another page: http://members.aol.com/GCGassaway/vacuform.htm

There is also a book on vac-u-forming available from MicroMark. http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=80868

I reccomend this book, as it has a good section on how different types of plastic need to be handled.  It even has examples for RC bodies.

For RC bodies, you will probably want to use a ploycarbonate (Lexan).  Polycarbonate can be one of the trickier plastics to form.  It requires preheating to remove any moisture that could cause bubbles.  styrene and Buterate are about the easiest to form, but they may not be strong enough for RC bodies.

[Stingray]

On a semi-related subject, does anyone know of an online hobby shop that sells styrene sheets? The only place I knew of locally that carried it is now out of business. I can't find any other shops that have it.

-S

[menace]

thanks erik--i find it funny that almost every vacuum forming site has had storm trooper tie-ins--wonder if I should branch out   I will look into the lexan but right now all i find is white styrene so i'll keep looking around.

[ErikRuud]

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/category.php?bid=24&PHPSESSID=200506151001321777556970

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.asp

http://www.rplastics.com/abssheet.html

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Department&ID=67

Sometimes you can get a local sign shop to give you scraps.


For some really wild choices try: http://www.alsacorp.com/formable.htm


Some of these links came from here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,38283.0.html

[Stingray]

Thanks Erik, US Plastic had the size I was looking for.

-S

[rchadd]

these have got me thinking...

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/salesaccessories/alsa_laminates_spk.htm


maybe could be useful for cp/cab?

[noir]

Hello guys,
I also have been looking into how to make my own chassis. HO scale 1/64 to be exact.

The information presented here is great. However, it's quite a bit to take-in. I'd like your opinion on which vacuum machine and what materials are best suited for making a HO scale 1/64 chassis?

Thanks,
noir

[ErikRuud]

I doubt very much that a good chassis could be vac-u-formed at all.

Most vac-u-formed slot car bodies are made from polycarbonate.  The usual thickness is either .010" or .007".  You can also use vinyl or byuterate but they will not be as tough.

My vac-u-form machine was made from scraps of 1x4 and 1/4 plywood, some angle aluminum, an electric hotplate from Walgreens, and a few other odds and ends.  A shop-vac provides the vacuum.