In this video I build a vacuum former to make sealed ABS cases for the electric crosskart battery modules. You can learn more details about how I did it and what I learned in the process or download the plans by checking out the links below. In the next video I'll show you how I made the battery modules and sealed them in the ABS cases that I formed. Build article: renewablesystemstechnology.com/project-blog/how-i-built-a-vacuum-former Plans: resystech.creator-spring.com/listing/vacuum-former-plans Electric crosskart build series: th-cam.com/video/QO7OHrW5oYM/w-d-xo.html More tool builds: th-cam.com/video/yXQnydST9fw/w-d-xo.html
I was a welder for 15 years and lived in the workshop . Used to love that I could get up at any hour and make whatever crazy thing popped into my head . Now I live in a second floor, 1 bedroom flat on sickness pay and can’t make anything . Miss that time so much . Love watching all your builds & keep enjoying & sharing . So cool 👍
As usual, I watch in amazement! To design and manufacture awe inspiring projects as well as the tools to make them. People must be beating your door down to have you take on projects ... it would just distract you from this cool stuff you obviously passionate about. Nice work once again James .... Daryl
You have a unique clean design mentality and flow I like and want to incorperate. CAD, Mech, hands-on skills: your shop is nicely organized and kept in a non-trippable state( ie I fall over my crap). I'm trying to stop my tendency toward a system-of-piles mentality, where I jump from project idea to project idea, without proper cleanup between, as I context switch. I call it my "mpu interrupts without return address" system. Drop in some hoarding of anything that might be useful material in the vague future, and it's often a mess in my head, lab, and shop!!!! BR, Lee
Just wanted to say thanks for the extremely thorough write-up at your website..I enjoyed the video and came away with a lot of ideas, but now seeing the written post regarding the project after the video -- TOP notch work.
One of the best videos i saw in TH-cam ! You are so smart , creative and you have manual skills ! Most people don´t understand how dificult is to make samethig new and imagine in the head the project befor start the construction. Each detail needs to be thought . I go to folow you and congratulations. All the best .
Thanks James, love it, makes you think of so many potentials and could double up for carbon fibre parts production too hmmmm . Good to see the Kart progressing.
Thanks for showing the failures as well as the successes. There is a bit of trail and error in getting the form right. This is an excellent implementation of a vacuum forming machine. It looks like you have around 1000W of heating in the elements?
“It's approximately 1" smaller (l*w) than the space in the platen, and the top surface is 1" above the plane of the clamped plastic in the platen; this allows me to form a seal between the heated plastic and the edge of the plenum “ Quick question sir, you mentioned the plenum is 1” smaller than the space in the platen, meaning 1/2” space all around the plenum. Can i shrink to a 3/8” or 10mm space instead? Making the space around the frame surrounding the plenum a bit smaller? So i can get a better seal? I have a 1” top surface above the plane of clamped plastic. My frame is a 1” square tube as well. Thank you any help would be appreciated! Really admire the excellent work!
Any pump that can pull a vacuum is fine. I'm using 1/4 hp single stage pump. The vacuum tank is what does the work. Pull a vacuum in the tank, then open the valve and the vacuum in the tank pulls the material to the mold, not the pump - the pump can be turned off before forming as long as there's a vacuum in the tank. I'm using a 20L tank for a 24x24 work area.
Nice job bro. What’s the size of that garage your working out of? I’m getting ready to build a new garage on my other property in Indiana then move all my things into it sell this house and build a new one. I’m wanting the garage to be nice and big but I don’t want it to be so big I can’t keep a good climate in it year round. I built this home myself in 07 from digging forming and pouring full basement to hanging finishing and painting the drywall. I swore I’d never build another one after that but I’m doing a barndaminium using steel building. Wanting to do a big garage first. Then do the home with attached garage for parking cars
24x40'. 9' walls with a vaulted ceiling for a bit more headroom (comes in handy when balancing turbine blades). I found it was just the right size when I first built it. But the more projects I do and the more I venture into new area and get more tools and equipment, the more space I lose to storing all that stuff, plus materials. Pretty much down to working out of a 16x16' area now.
@@JamesBiggar ok awesome that helps because I was looking at a 30x40 a guy has for sale down the road. It’s brand new never put up for 9k but has the 12’ ceilings. Myself unless using a lift parking a RV or wrenching on big trucks the high ceiling was just a place for all the heat to get trapped in. Idk if the 12’ ceiling height makes any kind of good sense really being that I don’t think it’s enough height to do any of the fore mentioned items. Do you see any advantage of the 12’ over a 10’ ceiling. I think that’s a good price on the steel building so I may go that route either way. I’ve just always worked out of a 25x25 with 10’ ceiling and am curious
That's a removable reducer. I'll use it to form small parts to limit waste, and take it out to use the full work area when I need to form bigger parts.
damn thats cool, is this how they make plastics for things like a drill? you know the outer casing that holds the motor? i always wondered how they make stuff like that
Vac formers can make all kinds of things using a single surface mold, like signage or autobody panels, fenders, bumpers, project cases, etc. But they're somewhat limited in what they can do. A drill housing is a bit more complex, with various screw holes and different details. An OEM would use vacuum injection molds for stuff like that - injection molds can produce better detail, easier.
Not necessarily. They're all good methods, but are used in different applications. Flux core is essentially gasless MIG welding. Ie: it's the same process as MIG in that you're feeding a spool of wire through the gun nozzle, it just doesn't require gas because flux core wire is as it sounds - it has a self shielding core of flux in the wire to replace the need for gas to shield the weld pool from the air as you're welding, so it's more portable and easier to use outside in windy conditions, for ex. But it generates a lot of smoke compared to MIG or TIG, so good ventilation is needed when using it indoors.
In this video I build a vacuum former to make sealed ABS cases for the electric crosskart battery modules. You can learn more details about how I did it and what I learned in the process or download the plans by checking out the links below. In the next video I'll show you how I made the battery modules and sealed them in the ABS cases that I formed.
Build article: renewablesystemstechnology.com/project-blog/how-i-built-a-vacuum-former
Plans: resystech.creator-spring.com/listing/vacuum-former-plans
Electric crosskart build series:
th-cam.com/video/QO7OHrW5oYM/w-d-xo.html
More tool builds:
th-cam.com/video/yXQnydST9fw/w-d-xo.html
That'll work with plexiglass to wouldn't it
Nice!!
Yes. EDIT: 'most' thermoplastics will work, up to 1/4" thick.
I'd like you to make a cool electronic motorcycle, right?
I was a welder for 15 years and lived in the workshop . Used to love that I could get up at any hour and make whatever crazy thing popped into my head .
Now I live in a second floor, 1 bedroom flat on sickness pay and can’t make anything . Miss that time so much . Love watching all your builds & keep enjoying & sharing . So cool 👍
I hope you get well soon! There's a lot of great maker content in TH-cam, I hope you'll be able to get back to doing what you love
Mr Shaneyt, you can still make. Try tooth pics, hot glue and popsicle sticks. I use them to demo/model a lot. At home, sometimes in bed!
@@-Sean_ thank you so much . You stay safe
@@wadejensen4146 Thank you 🙏🏼 I still keep busy and totally realise there is a lot of people a lot worse of . You stay safe & well 👍
@@mrshaneyt43 thanks, I'll do my part. I hope you and yours are safe too
I am not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is NOT your first rodeo! Well done!!!
As usual, I watch in amazement! To design and manufacture awe inspiring projects as well as the tools to make them. People must be beating your door down to have you take on projects ... it would just distract you from this cool stuff you obviously passionate about. Nice work once again James .... Daryl
Thanks Daryl!
MAN...the fact that you build your own tool and that they look sooo clean and perfect is really impressive.
Superb.. Im pleased you showed the ones that didn't work as Every project has an element of trial and error. Fantastic
You have a unique clean design mentality and flow I like and want to incorperate. CAD, Mech, hands-on skills: your shop is nicely organized and kept in a non-trippable state( ie I fall over my crap). I'm trying to stop my tendency toward a system-of-piles mentality, where I jump from project idea to project idea, without proper cleanup between, as I context switch. I call it my "mpu interrupts without return address" system. Drop in some hoarding of anything that might be useful material in the vague future, and it's often a mess in my head, lab, and shop!!!! BR, Lee
This is by far the best design, fab and step by step i’ve seen’
Just wanted to say thanks for the extremely thorough write-up at your website..I enjoyed the video and came away with a lot of ideas, but now seeing the written post regarding the project after the video -- TOP notch work.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Oh man, I wanna see that krosscart ripping it up already, but this is just awesome on a whole other level....
One of the best videos i saw in TH-cam ! You are so smart , creative and you have manual skills ! Most people don´t understand how dificult is to make samethig new and imagine in the head the project befor start the construction. Each detail needs to be thought . I go to folow you and congratulations. All the best .
Always excited to see your uploads, salamu kutoka Nairobi, Kenya.
T'es toujours aussi fort. Respect total pour ce que tu fais. N'arrête pas c'est trop bien.
Thanks James, love it, makes you think of so many potentials and could double up for carbon fibre parts production too hmmmm . Good to see the Kart progressing.
Exelente trabajo, mucho ingenio, mil gracias por compartir este su conocimiento, saludos desde California 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Sir you are undoubtedly a legend...
Thanks for showing the failures as well as the successes. There is a bit of trail and error in getting the form right. This is an excellent implementation of a vacuum forming machine. It looks like you have around 1000W of heating in the elements?
Thanks! Around 3200 watts, actually. Originally used seven 220V, 75.5 ohm tube elements, but decreased to 5 later. 220/75.5 = 2.9 amps, x5 = 14.6 amps, x220 = 3205 watts
@@JamesBiggar Ahh, the old 220V trick! Good, thanks for sharing that.
Excellent work man!!! I’m about to build one of these machines for packaging some motorcycle parts were manufacturing.
I know this is an older video, but loving your work so far!
Nice build man 👌 , as a mechanical student good to see this kind of builds 😊
Estaria Genial que Dijeras las medidas de los Caños...y a que distancia haces las soldaduras de caños extras...y a que distancia las perforaciones...
“It's approximately 1" smaller (l*w) than the space in the platen, and the top surface is 1" above the plane of the clamped plastic in the platen; this allows me to form a seal between the heated plastic and the edge of the plenum “
Quick question sir, you mentioned the plenum is 1” smaller than the space in the platen, meaning 1/2” space all around the plenum. Can i shrink to a 3/8” or 10mm space instead? Making the space around the frame surrounding the plenum a bit smaller? So i can get a better seal? I have a 1” top surface above the plane of clamped plastic. My frame is a 1” square tube as well. Thank you any help would be appreciated! Really admire the excellent work!
As a retired tradesman: very cool
Congratulations on your work, how can I get the plans for your machine?
have you tried air compressed Mold Release to eject parts?
My eyes are searching for streetfighter at last those get peace after seeing it .
One day I'll make it my own
Thats awesome,man
Hello, great work man! I have a question, is it possible to vacuum form a U shaped ( 3 sides) box with minimal cutting ? What do you think
Great work 👏🏻 👏🏻 thanks for the vid.
im glad i found this channel! Keep it up dude! U earn a sub
You are quite innovative !
this came out amazing....really have it dialed in...great video
Thank you! Cheers!
Handy tool, thanks for sharing.
Nice build! Good work sir
You Sir, are a genius 🤯
Nice build !!
Thanks for sharing !!
Thanks for watching!
Wow!!! Nice work!
I WANT TO BUY THE DRAWINGS FOR THE THERMOFORMING MACHINE BUT THE LINK IS DOWN
Well looking. Amazing.
As always awesome work never fails 🤘keep it up brother
I love the hyperlapse!!!
Do you have a place where we could purchase sheets of abs?
Mekanik bilgin güzel tebrikler 👍
Link for the vacuum former plans seems to be broken, any chance its available elsewhere?
That's Impressive James! Keep it up
What is the centigrade temperature of heating the plastic and what is the intake pressure of the vacuum pump
Watch the video to find out.
What capacity vacuum pump required for 1ft. X 1ft. Of forming?
Any pump that can pull a vacuum is fine. I'm using 1/4 hp single stage pump. The vacuum tank is what does the work. Pull a vacuum in the tank, then open the valve and the vacuum in the tank pulls the material to the mold, not the pump - the pump can be turned off before forming as long as there's a vacuum in the tank. I'm using a 20L tank for a 24x24 work area.
very smart design
Very nice! What a tool!
If i want this model ready to use what its cost with delivery in india
Круто! Как раз то что мне нужно. благодарю!
Добрый день .я собрал станок.уплотнители между рамок из чего и как сделали для вакуума.
Nice job bro. What’s the size of that garage your working out of? I’m getting ready to build a new garage on my other property in Indiana then move all my things into it sell this house and build a new one. I’m wanting the garage to be nice and big but I don’t want it to be so big I can’t keep a good climate in it year round. I built this home myself in 07 from digging forming and pouring full basement to hanging finishing and painting the drywall. I swore I’d never build another one after that but I’m doing a barndaminium using steel building. Wanting to do a big garage first. Then do the home with attached garage for parking cars
24x40'. 9' walls with a vaulted ceiling for a bit more headroom (comes in handy when balancing turbine blades). I found it was just the right size when I first built it. But the more projects I do and the more I venture into new area and get more tools and equipment, the more space I lose to storing all that stuff, plus materials. Pretty much down to working out of a 16x16' area now.
@@JamesBiggar ok awesome that helps because I was looking at a 30x40 a guy has for sale down the road. It’s brand new never put up for 9k but has the 12’ ceilings. Myself unless using a lift parking a RV or wrenching on big trucks the high ceiling was just a place for all the heat to get trapped in. Idk if the 12’ ceiling height makes any kind of good sense really being that I don’t think it’s enough height to do any of the fore mentioned items. Do you see any advantage of the 12’ over a 10’ ceiling. I think that’s a good price on the steel building so I may go that route either way. I’ve just always worked out of a 25x25 with 10’ ceiling and am curious
Boa noite como eu fasso para estalar um compressor de ar na vacuum forming
Excelente máquina 👏 💪
What is the price for machine?
Super... 😎
Great stuff!
Why did you choose to make the workable area smaller than the whole table that was available?
That's a removable reducer. I'll use it to form small parts to limit waste, and take it out to use the full work area when I need to form bigger parts.
@@JamesBiggar Oh nice!
Thanks, great job 👏🏼
Не могу понять. Зачем используется ресивер ?
damn thats cool, is this how they make plastics for things like a drill? you know the outer casing that holds the motor? i always wondered how they make stuff like that
Vac formers can make all kinds of things using a single surface mold, like signage or autobody panels, fenders, bumpers, project cases, etc. But they're somewhat limited in what they can do. A drill housing is a bit more complex, with various screw holes and different details. An OEM would use vacuum injection molds for stuff like that - injection molds can produce better detail, easier.
Amazing 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Круто!!! Спасибо за видео!!!
У нас говорят... руки растут из правильного места
We say ... hands grow from the right place
Great ❤
Hello, what material is this？
Any one how did it like this video or not yet?
Me gustaría que hicieras una motocicleta electrónica genial, ¿verdad?
Fantastic, show!!!
alguien sabe como se llama la maquina?
congrats men excellent
👍👍👍 fantastic
link projeto ?
What is the name of the metal that you formed??
ABS
rất hay bạn!
Отличное видео. Много чего увидел полезного
Very nice.
buenas tardes me gustaria saber que cuesta
great engineering's
Is that a MIG welder
Flux core
@@JamesBiggar I've never heard of a flux core welder
Is it better than MIG and TIG
Not necessarily. They're all good methods, but are used in different applications. Flux core is essentially gasless MIG welding. Ie: it's the same process as MIG in that you're feeding a spool of wire through the gun nozzle, it just doesn't require gas because flux core wire is as it sounds - it has a self shielding core of flux in the wire to replace the need for gas to shield the weld pool from the air as you're welding, so it's more portable and easier to use outside in windy conditions, for ex. But it generates a lot of smoke compared to MIG or TIG, so good ventilation is needed when using it indoors.
@@JamesBiggar ah ok this sounds nice
Thx for the info
Sweet!
That's nice
Wow💟💟💟
Nice
مشاءالله
اين الجيد مادات الباستيك
I'd like you to make a cool electronic motorcycle, right?
th-cam.com/video/gYs_jYUyaoY/w-d-xo.html
wow.
I could not move my gaze from it.
👏
cycle time ??????
Less than 2 min.
👍
wow supppeeerrr
Second
Omad
First