VacuumFormingPage

Vacuum Forming Page

This page was created to show what could be done in 2010. We have access to inexpensive Tuffak brand polycarbonate. There were some polycarbonate pieces used on DEWBOT V, but there were air bubbles in thesm. This is because polycarbonate is hygroscopic--it absorbs and holds a small amount of moisture. When the Polye was heated, the water turned to steam and formed the bubbles. This can be solved by heat soaking the Poly before it is formed. This YouTube video shows what could be done for protective covers and other pieces on DEWBOT VI. DIY Vacuum Forming
On the DEWBOT VI pivot chassis, the four corners have exposed chain and a sensor that need to be covered. Thus, during the 2010 build season, Team 1640 made its first vacuum-formed parts: chainguards which covered those sensors and chains. Mark Morun created the form.

For more information, see Arkema's polycarbonate forming and fabrication link.

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  chainguard form

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  polycarbonate on the form

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  polycarbonate formed

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  Chainguard formed

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  frame removed

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  alignment screws removed

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  trimming the raw chainguard

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  Chainguard off the form

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  Trimmed chainguard

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  Finished chainguard

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  Chainguard installed