Vacuum Form Membrane Press

I decided to make a holster. This post is not about my holster…it is about the vacuum table I am building in order to make my holster.
In the past I posted about my PVC vacuum table that is still working perfectly today. But it’s too big to do the type of vacuum forming I want to do. I cut holes in 1/8" 12x16 aluminum, and set it upon a modified version of my old PVC table to provide air distribution. I cut two frames from PVC and inserted the membrane secured by .25 20 bolts into threaded inserts.
I will be using my heat press to heat Kydex and forming it on this table.
I have purchased a few nice holsters in my time but this one is going to cost a lot more than what I paid for those. LOL… But the fun is in the making.

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I would love to see the heat press you are using. Not making holsters but it would be fun to have a large format vacumforming tool.

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It’s just a cheap 16x20 clam thing that I use for sublimation on Acrylic.

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If I were to buy another one I wouldn’t get the clam. They have machines that drop down straight which gives you the option of pressing larger things…and even using it with foam without heat.

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Lots of interesting things going on in this thread. Sublimation on acrylic? Do you have any projects that you could share?

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White Cast Acrylic sublimates perfectly. Trouble is warp. This membrane vacuum press will fix that problem. Coming off the heat press it will spend a few minutes under vacuum. That’s why I cut the base plate out of aluminum…since PVC doesn’t like heat.

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Monks Corner? That’s just a couple of hours up the road from me.

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Yup. Com on up and I’ll give you some Mobile Vactra #2 :slight_smile: 30 miles north of Charleston on Lake Moultrie.

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Sorry, that’s not tempting. I have a 3 lifetime supply because that was the smallest quantity I could get😀

I am outside of Savannah.

I know. I have actually learned a lot from you. Dang… I was trying to offload some Vactra.

If you learned from me your starting point must have been pretty low :grinning:

I have tried to offload Vactra for a while.
I like the press. What are you planning to make the holster out of?

I might like to check your vacuum table out at some point. I have been wanting to do that. Creating something small to start with rather than trying to tackle the whole bed seems like a good idea.

I think it was the SST dragknife thing. If you want I’ll send you the file. I know you have Vectric either desktop or pro. As all must say…make sure the toolpaths fit your machine. :slight_smile: PM your email to me if you want it…I don’t want to post it publicly.