DIY - Vacuum Forming Box

© Mark Qvale - June, 2018

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Tools I Used 1.2 Parts & Pieces 2 The Build 2.1 First Things First 2.2 Base Build 2.3 Frame Build 2.4 Heat Box Build 3 First Mold! 4 See Also
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Introduction

After doing hundreds of 3D prints for canopies, skids, shields, et., I decided to build my own Vacuum Forming box so I could get the weight dramatically down on some these parts. I did a pile of research and found many different styles and sizes but finally decided to simply take the things I liked in many pictures found on google and design my own. This then is my version.

Tools I Used

Besides the basic hand tools, these power tools helped immensly with keeping things sized and squared perfectly.

1. 10" Chop saw w/60 tooth carbide blade

2. Drill press

3. 10" Table saw

Parts & Pieces

Here is the complete parts list for this project. All dimensions and screw specs for this project are imperial (inches). The dimensions for the wood cut pieces are based on perfectly sized wood so if you copy this you will need to make adjustments based on the wood you select.

Cut List

Hardwood 3/4 x 2-3/4 x 11-1/2

Hardwood 3/4 x 3-1/4 x 24

Hardwood 3/4 x 3-1/4 x 11-1/5

Hardwood 5/8 x 1-1/2 x 2

Hardwood 3/4 x 2-3/4 x 10

Hardwood 3/4 x 2-3/4 x 10-1/8

Plywood 1/4 x 11-1/2 x 24

Plywood 1/4 x 11-1/2 x 14

Pine Laminate 1 x 8 x 10

Alum Flatbar 1/8 x 1 x 3-1/2

Alum Angle 1/16 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 14L

Alum Angle 1/16 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 10-1/2L

Alum Angle 1/16 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 9-1/2L

Alum Angle 1/16 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 11-1/4L

Wood Dowel 1/2D x 10-1/2L

Heat Box 2-3/4 x 10-3/16 x 8-7/16

Hardware

4x #8 x 1-1/4" wood Screws

14x #4 x 3/4" wood screws

4x #8-32 x 2" round head machine screws

5x #8-32 x 1" pan head machine screws

20x #6-32 x 3/8" flat head machine screws

8x #6-32 x 3/8" pan head machine screws

2x #12-24 x 3/4" button head machine screws

9x #8-32 hex nuts

28x #6-32 hex nuts

2x #12 nylok hex nuts

14x #8 flat washers

2x 3/16 x 3/8 x 3/16 nylon spacers

8x small steel flat corner brackets

5x 3/16 x 1/2 x 3/8L phenolic spacers

4x 1/2 x 5/8D rubber feet w/screws

10x 3/4" binder (spring) clips

Heater Components

Walmart Toaster Oven

The Build

First Things First

Toaster Oven

While reading many articles on how to create an effective heating element I found a YouTube video from a guy who was simply using a toaster oven to heat the plastic in an aluminum frame. So, I bought a toaster oven at Wallmart for $19 and gave this method a try. I found that these heating elements provided more than enough heat for this purpose so I incorporated the heat elements and the complete oven control system in my design.

WallMart toaster oven

Base Build

I started with the wood box. Using the 10" Chop saw I could make the corners nearly perfectly square which is a big plus.

Cut wood pieces and box build

I had a set of picture frame corner clamps which make the set-up and alignment of the corners super easy and solid.

Corner clamps

After the four corners were complete, I set everything else up and glued them all in with clamps to hold it all in place.

Box build

With the box completed I then needed to put the two top pieces together and drill the vacuum deck.

Box and top parts

I laid out the hole pattern on my computer and printed a template that I used to center-mark the holes.

Template for marking and drilling the vac holes

Frame Build

The two frames are pretty basic builds. Using the chop saw with the 60 tooth carbide blade I first cut to length the for main frame pieces then cut the four mitered pieces for the clamp frame.

Aluminum frame components

The clamp frame then required four holes at each corner with the flat side or the aluminum angle being counter sunk to fit the #6-32 x 3/8 screws.

Clamp frame corner detail

The main frame was put together using corner brackets made from the flat corner brackets I had on hand. These have three holes in each bracket and I used #6-32 flat head screws on the inside flat surface. The two outside screws are #6-32 x 3/8 pan head screws.