+Jonathan W Thanks Jonathan. I think my limit will be how much plastic I can heat at once. I bought a large 2200W oven element for this project. I'll see if it can heat as large a sheet as 3'x2', but my realistic estimate is that 2'x2' might be the maximum.
you may want to add a check valve and a bleeder on the output (input?) of the pump so you dont have to fiddle with the fly wheel. you'd just close the tank valve, bleed the vacuum and you're ready to go. Also I don't think you need to worry so much about closing the tank valve, its a sealed vessel so once its empty (full?) its not going to add any air to the system.
+Ben D Will try the check valve and bleeder. That sounds like a good plan. For the tank I figure it will be about volume not pressure. When the vacuum formed item is on the platen I want all the vacuum to be focused to there, rather than diverted to the 'empty' tank.
Looks like it will work great. What size former do you plan to build?
+Jonathan W Thanks Jonathan. I think my limit will be how much plastic I can heat at once. I bought a large 2200W oven element for this project. I'll see if it can heat as large a sheet as 3'x2', but my realistic estimate is that 2'x2' might be the maximum.
you may want to add a check valve and a bleeder on the output (input?) of the pump so you dont have to fiddle with the fly wheel. you'd just close the tank valve, bleed the vacuum and you're ready to go.
Also I don't think you need to worry so much about closing the tank valve, its a sealed vessel so once its empty (full?) its not going to add any air to the system.
+Ben D Will try the check valve and bleeder. That sounds like a good plan.
For the tank I figure it will be about volume not pressure. When the vacuum formed item is on the platen I want all the vacuum to be focused to there, rather than diverted to the 'empty' tank.
Cool now I know what I'm going to do with the three cylinder air compressor I have.
+The Texas Gun Guy You could build a giant former!