DylanHarris99 Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 I was wandering what type of plastics and how long and hot they should be heated to make TK armor, I'm mainly after Ultra white PVC sheets, but ABS is fine too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 There are many factors to consider. Have you worked in forming before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 I have not yet, I am looking into vacuum forming though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 There are many factors to consider. Have you worked in forming before? I have not vacuum formed yet, but I have been looking into it for quite some time now. I am looking for tips on mainly pvc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pho[TK] Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Hello, I have some experience from the industrial vacuumforming (fridge production with PVC). It's quite important that the core temperature from your plastic sheet is higher then the glas transition temperature but not so high as the melting temperature. If the temperature is below the glas transition temperature, you will get some cracks in the plastic during the forming. Also the tempering of the mold is quite important, with a "hot" mold (30-50°C) you get better results during the forming (the material can flow better). In the fridge mass production we used a lot of sensors to control the plastic sheet heating process and also the forming process itself. But nevertheless, we set the parameters for each new product with the try and error method 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locitus[Admin] Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Why go through the effort to make your own moulds, build a vec-form and buy the plastic, then find it's hard and costly and didn't turn out very well, when you can buy a finished kit from someone who know's what they are doing, for much less? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkTrooper[TK] Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Unless you're going to go into the "business" of creating your own armor molds and producing kits I don't think the work involved for one or two full sets of armor is worth it. Unless you already have a vacuum former and have use for it for other things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Hello, I have some experience from the industrial vacuumforming (fridge production with PVC). It's quite important that the core temperature from your plastic sheet is higher then the glas transition temperature but not so high as the melting temperature. If the temperature is below the glas transition temperature, you will get some cracks in the plastic during the forming. Also the tempering of the mold is quite important, with a "hot" mold (30-50°C) you get better results during the forming (the material can flow better). In the fridge mass production we used a lot of sensors to control the plastic sheet heating process and also the forming process itself. But nevertheless, we set the parameters for each new product with the try and error method Hello, I have some experience from the industrial vacuumforming (fridge production with PVC). It's quite important that the core temperature from your plastic sheet is higher then the glas transition temperature but not so high as the melting temperature. If the temperature is below the glas transition temperature, you will get some cracks in the plastic during the forming. Also the tempering of the mold is quite important, with a "hot" mold (30-50°C) you get better results during the forming (the material can flow better). In the fridge mass production we used a lot of sensors to control the plastic sheet heating process and also the forming process itself. But nevertheless, we set the parameters for each new product with the try and error method I think I'll stick with abs or HIPS, I'm having trouble finding the pvc anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Why go through the effort to make your own moulds, build a vec-form and buy the plastic, then find it's hard and costly and didn't turn out very well, when you can buy a finished kit from someone who know's what they are doing, for much less? I have the molds already, I just want to make armor for me and my friends, plus I don't have the money for armor, especially from anovos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pho[TK] Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 You have to consider the same things for ABS and HIPS as for PVC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted December 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 You have to consider the same things for ABS and HIPS as for PVC thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt[501st] Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 have molds already????.......sounds fishy oh vacuforming is easy you just heat some plastic up and put it on a form and suck it down and done!!! ya know mathias ...how many times I read you saying that....lol..if I had a doller for every time forming is NOT easy to do..and not cheap sure you can get 1000 bucks worth of HIPS to start practicing on that should get you ready for ABS good abs you can only buy in bulk about 5000 worth but back to the molds ??? c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 have molds already????.......sounds fishy oh vacuforming is easy you just heat some plastic up and put it on a form and suck it down and done!!! ya know mathias ...how many times I read you saying that....lol..if I had a doller for every time forming is NOT easy to do..and not cheap sure you can get 1000 bucks worth of HIPS to start practicing on that should get you ready for ABS good abs you can only buy in bulk about 5000 worth but back to the molds ??? c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I made them using pepakura FO trooper armor, but instead of using the armor I made to wear I cut it and added clay to open parts to be a vacuum forming mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt[501st] Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 What did you do to reinforce them. Clay wont withstand forming pressure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanHarris99 Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Plaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABS80 Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 Plaster is not strongs enough but good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaehyc[TK] Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 Reading some of these comments is disheartening. I thought these forums were to help and encourage people not nay say and post unfounded half accusations and down right wrong assumptions based on Zero evidence. Plaster is plenty strong enough. I used a plaster mold for my 1st two vacuum forming tests and the molds were not a problem. http://www.whitearmor.net/forum/topic/33867-project-wst-windsor-stormtrooper/ I used ABS plastic which cost me $13(cdn) a sheet for 16" x 24" that's with shipping to canada I have ordered both .090" and .060" thicknesses (If your interested in the were to buy PM me) My first Vacuum former imploded very dramatically but it only cost me under $20 so no biggy. The Mark II is wood took me a few hours to make and its solid, cost is under $50. My next set of tests will be using 3D printed molds. I would say so far I am in for under $100 and granted I haven't made a usable part yet. I've learned a lot and had fun with my friends. Enjoy the process, Be safe, Have fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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