New Vacuum Forming Machines

Now you can buy vacuum forming machines through Amazon.com. There are two sizes available: 12" x 12" and 12" x 18". Below are pictures/links to the machines.

The item description for the machine is: Our Table Top Vacuum Former is perfect for small businesses and hobbyists who want to create parts in plastic up to 1/8" thick. Produce intricate shapes with results that rival expensive commercial machines in their incredible accuracy and detail: prototypes, custom packaging, RC car bodies, model rocket nose cones, molds for plaster or concrete, chocolate and candy, candles, and soap making. Our 12"x12" Vacuum former includes a perforated aluminum vacuum platen (the top surface that delivers the vacuum under the hot plastic) that is computer designed and precision CNC machined to maximize air flow and eliminate unnecessary volume - both critical to rapid air evacuation and professional vacuum forming results. Detailed, step-by-step instructions along with sources for vacuum formable plastics are included. Compatible with all types of thermoform plastic: ABS, Acrylic (Plexiglas), Butyrate, PET-G, Polycarbonate (Lexan), Polyethylene, PVC, Styrene, Vinyl, etc. Requires house hold oven and Shop-Vac style vacuum cleaner with 1 1/4" hose/adapter.

Vacuum Forming Explained in 3 Easy Steps: Step #1: Secure your plastic between the vacuum former's metal frames. Attach your Shop-Vac (not included) to the vacuum former. Place your model on top of the perforated aluminum vacuum platen. Step #2: Place the plastic in your kitchen oven and watch as it becomes soft and begins to sag. Align the metal frames with the vacuum former's guides and lower the plastic over your model. Step #3: The hot plastic forms an air tight seal around the vacuum platen's edges. Vacuum pressure pulls the hot plastic down around the model. After cooling for a few seconds the plastic part is complete.

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  Make your own prototypes, custom packaging, RC car bodies, or model rocket nose cones
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  Create custom molds for plaster or concrete, chocolate and candy, candles, and soap making
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  Forms Plastic Sheets 12" x 12" Up to 1/8" Thick (9 3/4" x 9 3/4" Usable Area)
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  Includeds detailed, step-by-step instructions along with sources for vacuum formable plastics
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  Requires house hold oven and Shop-Vac style vacuum cleaner with 1 1/4" hose/adapter

I think this looks like a higher quality hobby vacuum forming machine than some of the others sold on the market. The box looks to be well made and I particulary like that the platen area is metal. This results in better forming as it will transduce heat better. As for the price, it is very competitive. Other companies that sell inferior products also make you buy plastic with the machine at a very high price. You can buy plastic through many sources on the Internet, such as U.S. Plastics, much cheaper. I recommend using PETG (Vivak) for making chocolate molds.

See The Chocolate Mold Factory.com main pages for more instructions on how to use a vacuum forming machine like this.

Vivak PETG Plastic

Many people making vacuum formed molds for chocolate prefer to use PETG plastic instead of the more expensive polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is definitely the gold standard when it comes to professional chocolate molds, but it is probably not necessary if you are only going to be making short production runs for your own purposes. It is much easier to form and yet is still very strong.

According to Sheffield Plastics, the manufacturer of Vivak (PETG),

"VIVAK is the brand and market leader for PETG products. Among its advantages, VIVAK PETG products offer superior impact strength over acrylic and cost effectiveness compared to polycarbonate, and offers deep draws, complex die-cuts, and precise molded-in details without sacrificing structural integrity. It die-cuts and punches easily, and can be bonded or fastened with adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or rivets. In addition, VIVAK is easily decorated by painting, silk screening, or hot stamping. Easy to fabricate, form, bond, and decorate, VIVAK PETG sheet products are well suited for a variety of point of purchase and other applications."

On their website, they have a 12 page guide for fabrication, forming and finishing. To view it click here: http://www.sheffieldplastics.com/web_docs/BRO009.pdf.

Chocolate molds made of PETG are usually made in thicknesses of .020", .030", .040", and .060". Obviously, the thicker the plastic, the more rigid the mold will be. All of these thicknesses, with the exception of .060", are easily cut with a good pair of scissors. The .060" is a bit more difficult to cut, but it can be done with scissors, scored and snapped, or with a saw.

There are many sources for buying PETG over the internet. Just type "PETG" into any search engine and you will find plenty of companies selling it. Also, I advise you to check your local phone listings first because plastic is fairly expensive to ship, as it can be quite heavy.

Review of EZ Form 1510

If you want to buy a vacuum forming machine to make molds, I would recommend that you look at the EZ Form SV 1510 manufactured by Centroform. I owned one of these vacuum formers and was very pleased. It sells new for $649.00 plus $37.00 shipping and handling. It can be purchased directly from the manufacturer, or if you check eBay sometimes they auction new machines or you can buy used machines for around $450.00.

The features and specfications for the machine according to Centroform are as follows:

• Patent Pending


• Heavy duty 10' grounded electrical cord


• Maintenance free Galvanized seal less platen ( Forming area)


• Small internal chamber which allows quicker suction


• Operates on household 110-120 current


• Plastic holding frame slides down quickly before plastic starts to cool


• Incoloy® tubular heating element. Symmetrically engineered for uniform heat distribution to critical areas with no dead spots


• Depth of draw up to 7 inches depending on mold shape and plastic
  Forms plastics up to 1/4"


• Precut plastic (white, clear food safe, black and other colors) is available


• Additional outlets are integrated in to the unit which allows additional (storage tanks - vacuum pumps) to be connected to the unit if needed, opens automatically when suction is applied


• Unit ships with a starter kit which includes a variety of plastics


• Operator’s Manual is included with pictures, sources for plastic and blister/skin packaging supplies, tricks on vacuum forming and molds
  The EZFORM SV 1510 works with all formable plastics which include : Styrene, Acrylic or Plexiglas, Pet-G, PVC, ABS, Polyethylene, vinyl, Lexan or Polycarbonate and many more


• This unit can be used for production, prototyping, Magnetic letters, molds for plaster/concrete/candy/chocolate, Packaging, Blister packaging, Skin Packaging, sign making, mask making, special effects, RC Parts (cowls - wingtips - canopies) and many more


• Limited lifetime warranty and free technical support


• Specifications:
  Unit measures : 26 " high x 23 " long x 12 " wide
  Forming area : 15 ¼ " x 10 ¼ "
  Weight : 35 lbs
  
  MORE INFORMATION:
  The EZFORM ® series come with a high source handpump integrated into the unit, only the handle is visible. The machine has an elastic opening to attach your vacuum (shop vac or other common household vacuums) and another additional outlet to add an electric pump to replace the handpump for high volume production. This is how the machine works: The vacuum removes most of the air (it removes a lot of air quickly but it does not have a lot of torque) a pressure sensitive valve closes automatically when the vacuum is no longer able to suction. What is left is evacuated by the handpump or you can add an electric pump later if needed (the pump/handpump removes less air with more torque) .

I thought this machine had some better features as compared to other similarly priced machines. For example, the mechanism for getting the plastic over the model on the forming area is a pull down from the top type, instead of the flip from the side type. Once the plastic has sagged, you can pull it down quickly and straight. I have heard that the flip type causes the plastic to sway to one side while you are flipping it to the forming surface.

Another advantage is that you are able to use more than one vacuum source and the machine has a built in manual hand pump. For making detailed chocolate molds with logos, you need a really good suction to get in small places. Sometimes this is difficult, especially if you are only using a shop vac. The EZ Form machine allows you to use a shop vac combined with another vacuum source, such as a vacuum pump or air compressor.

If you want to learn more about vacuum forming machines, including how to make them yourself, visit The Chocolate Mold Factory's main website for articles and videos.