VCUQ FabLab Vacuum Former Certification

In order to become certified to use the vacuum former, you must schedule an in lab demonstration of the equipment, with the Fab Lab Staff. Then please review the following information. At the conclusion of the demo, you will be given a code which you can use to complete the short quiz at the end of the review.

Introduction

Vacuum forming is a fabrication process in which a plastic sheet or film, is heated to high-enough temperatures to give it a pliable texture. It is then stretched onto a mold, using a vacuum, and is cooled into a finished shape.

Plastics which can be used in the vacuum former include HIC (high impact styrene), ABS (acrylonitrile butadine stryrene), and thermoplastic resins such as polystyrene and PVC. The molds can be made of wood, foam, cast aluminum, and acrylic.

The vacuum former can often lead to mixed results and may require a series of tests. Due to the high temperatures and the transformative nature of the material, the vacuum former requires constant supervision and planning.

Vacuum Former Safety, Bookings, and Expectations

Safety

Due to the high temperatures and the transformative nature of the material, the vacuum former requires constant supervision and planning.

Vacuum Former bookings

A booking is required for all vacuum former use.
Bookings can be made in the system up to 2 weeks in advance with at least 12 hours notice.
Same day bookings can only be made in the Fab Lab office. Once you have received approval (and a special Code), you can make a booking on the Fab Lab computers before beginning your job.

Fab Lab Expectations The Fab Lab Staff and Lab Monitors are available to assist you with:

Preparing and loading/unloading of material
Assisting you with the settings

It is up to you (with the assistance of your instructor) to do the following:

Create your mold
Monitor your project as the vacuum former is operating
Removing your materials from the vacuum former, returning borrowed tools, and tidying your area in the Fab Lab

Vacuum Former Misuse

Misuse of the vacuum former will result in a 1 week suspension from booking. After 3 suspensions, you will be barred for the remainder of semester and required to re-take this certification. Examples of vacuum former misuse include:

Leaving the Fab Lab while the vacuum former is running.
Using materials that are not Fab Lab approved
Leaving a mess in the FabLab after use.
Missing or arriving more than 15 minutes late to more than 2 appointments.
Using the vacuum former without a booking, or when not certified to use the vinyl cutter

If you have any concerns with any aspects of this, please talk to Fab Lab Staff or student Lab monitors.

Certification

In order to become certified to use the vacuum former, you must schedule an in lab demonstration of the equipment, with the Fab Lab Staff. At the conclusion of the demo, you will be given a code which you can use to complete the short quiz below.

Quiz: From the options below, check all of the statements that are TRUE based on what is stated above:
All Use of the Vacuum former requires a booking.
If you are not certified you can have a friend make a booking for you.
If you leave the Vacuum former during a booking you will be suspended from the equipment the following week.
Fab Lab Staff and Lab monitors can assist you with loading the material and the setup/settings of your file
Fab Lab Staff and Fab Lab monitors can watch the Vacuum former for you
All materials can be used in the Vacuum Former

Name

Computer Login (eID)

Passcode