Anyone do vacuum forming?
- Thread starter Bartman
- Start date
DucktileMedia
Drone Enthusiast
Bart, my neighbor is a huge thermo plastics forming company. But they are gonna be pricey without quantity. I have a vacuum setup but no heat.
plingboot
Member
bart, is it a hemispherical dome?
if so i had a small quantity made (blown being the correct term) which fit the mk hexa plate exactly. they're about 3mm thick and much stronger than the thick droidworx dome. the one i use is flangeless, but i also had one with a 10mm flange too. there might be an outside chance that one of them might fit?
i'd estimate an initial cost of between £75-£100 for a form and dome, then less per additional dome, not cheap, but comparable to (again) a much less strong dw item. the only side issue is the mounting option, i added three m3 bolts which stick out and i loop rubber bands under the rigger and over them. works fine and doesn't look too diy.
can post a pic when i'm in the office if you want to see what they look like?
i was going to try and offer these for sale 'elsewhere' but someone got their pants in a bunch and deleted my forum posts… so i'll understand if the same happens to this post :black_eyed:
if so i had a small quantity made (blown being the correct term) which fit the mk hexa plate exactly. they're about 3mm thick and much stronger than the thick droidworx dome. the one i use is flangeless, but i also had one with a 10mm flange too. there might be an outside chance that one of them might fit?
i'd estimate an initial cost of between £75-£100 for a form and dome, then less per additional dome, not cheap, but comparable to (again) a much less strong dw item. the only side issue is the mounting option, i added three m3 bolts which stick out and i loop rubber bands under the rigger and over them. works fine and doesn't look too diy.
can post a pic when i'm in the office if you want to see what they look like?
i was going to try and offer these for sale 'elsewhere' but someone got their pants in a bunch and deleted my forum posts… so i'll understand if the same happens to this post :black_eyed:
Last edited by a moderator:
Droider
Drone Enthusiast
The DW domes are very strong.. I can vouch for that! I use the standard dome and have crashed it many times the hardest hitting a iron statue and it survived where a boom broke such was the force of the impact. The DW Domes are not pvc or cheap derivative that will deteriorate in UV and go brittle in the cold. They are made from Lexan which is a very strong and lightweight material.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexan.
Bart I think DennyR has done something along these lines..
Dave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexan.
Bart I think DennyR has done something along these lines..
Dave
Bartman
Welcome to MultiRotorForums.com!!
this is the shape I need to put a cover on...i can make the form but I don't have the equipment to form it. i could make a set-up but i don't have the time right now.View attachment 1315
i also would like to do something fun like mold a skull into the front of the dome.
i also would like to do something fun like mold a skull into the front of the dome.
Attachments
DucktileMedia
Drone Enthusiast
Just make the negative form (mold) and drill a hole in the bottom. Attach a shop vac to it. Place your lexan sheet on a piece of stainless or something really flat. Heat it in the oven to about 300deg and start playing with temp/time. Should be fun once you have it dialed in. It doesnt take much vacuum if the sheet is right.