How it Works:
A plastic sheet is clamped down over a mold and heated from above. Once the sheet is heated, it is pressed against a mold. A vacuum is then applied, to fully form the plastic to the mold. Once the plastic cools, it is removed from the mold.
When to use it:
Aiming to make many of the same piece, and thus forming off of a mold is convenient. Also most molding situations can be used here regardless of quantity to be made, due to the low pressure used in forming, the mold is able to be of a weaker and thus cheaper material.
Where to find it:
There are only two vacuum formers available on campus:
- DFab in the sub-basement of Margaret Morrison (available to architecture students)
- School of Art Fabrication in C and D levels of Doherty (available only to students in particular classes)