Want to make custom plastic 3D parts without a fancy 3D printer? Using your oven to melt the plastic and a household vacuum cleaner to supply the suction, Bob’s homemade vacuum former is the way to go. All you have to build is a simple wooden frame and a hollow box.
3D printed, two-part mold designed from original part specifications allows “factory-new” repair.
In case you missed it, the theme for October is “casting materials,” chosen strategically, of course, to resonate with the mounting excitement about everybody’s favorite maker holiday—Halloween! Whether you’re making wearables or hand-held props, there’s probably a method, material, or technique in our archives that will inspire you to take your costume to the next level.
Continuing our monthly materials themes for 2012, in October we’re featuring materials used in molding and casting.
If you’re an indoor rock climber, the time might come when you want to build your own climbing wall. Rock climbing holds aren’t as cheap, even though they’re just a bit of plastic or fiberglass. So maybe you’ll decide make your own! On Wardie’s World, Wardie has a post up describing how his friend John […]
Jimmy wants a ring that makes an impression. Jimmy gets out the wax, a hobby knife, and a Dremel tool and sets to work.
James Bruton of Southampton, UK, (whose DIY vacuum forming machine project was featured on the blog) wrote in to share his technique for molding and casting parts for his Iron Man costume. I designed this part for my life size iron Man suit in Autodesk 123D and had it printed at Shapeways. Then I made […]
