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 Post subject: Vacuum Forming Question
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2007 6:15 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:46 pm
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Location: San Jose, CA
Who here has a vacuum forming rig?

I recently received a pair of Vader lenses that were supposedly optical grade, and I trusted the Vader-vendor in that description.

Well, it turns out the lenses were just barely domed, as if the acrylic were only heated and someone tried to press a spoon in the center. It had no resemblance to the egg-shaped effect you get on the authentic Don Post Deluxe helmets.

The lenses had tiny little pits in them on the exterior surface, so while I do not think the mold itself was unpolished, it may be these dimples developed due to the heat process.

The resulting lenses had visual distortion and were not optical grade. Well, it turns out the material was optical grade -- the results from this Vader-vendor were not.

So my questions:

1. Is there anyone who actually owns a vacuum forming rig who might be able to assist with a project? I can make a lens mold, but I don't have the time nor resources to make a vacuum forming table myself.

2. When you heat material and it stretches and forms over your mold, is it typical for little dimples to form on the external surface?

Thanks in advance.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:39 pm 
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I have a table that I made that could do the job, the dimples may be moisture as that happened with my fencing neck on the first try.

You dont really need to vacuum form it if you have a thin enough piece of material. Some sort of colored polypropylene or something. Additionally you dont need a vac table per se'

Options....and I have done all of these with sucess.

1. Build a cheesy "vac table" for a small job as this. You can use a wooden TV tray with a hole drilled for the vacuum source. A regular house vacuum with a hose should do it. Lay your molds down and then with 2" masking tape, lay a piece of material over your molds making sure they overlap by 4 inches all around. Turn on the old heat gun and when it gets pliable turn on the vacuum.

2. The exact same as above except dont use a vacuum...wear leather gloves and press onto the mold as you go.

3. Cut your plastic to shape, heat it up lay it into the eyesocket of the mask and press an egg or your mold into it from the inside.

Eyes are simple but you'll need a few practice tries to get your rythm down. Hope this helps!

Example using option 2

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:53 pm 
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Mac,
I just sold you some lenses. are these the ones your referring to?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:28 am 
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Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:58 am
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Location: Denmark
artisanprops wrote:
Mac,
I just sold you some lenses. are these the ones your referring to?

I don't think so. Mac has told about these optical grade ones before that didn't turn out very well.

Though, I can't be sure.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:16 pm 
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Location: Toronto, Canada
Doug

i think NHM is right... You sold him those lenses just recently and CS is talking about lenses he got way back in May.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:33 pm 
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NoHumorMan wrote:
artisanprops wrote:
Mac,
I just sold you some lenses. are these the ones your referring to?

I don't think so. Mac has told about these optical grade ones before that didn't turn out very well.

Though, I can't be sure.


I thought it a good idea to ask only because, If they were the ones and
he had contacted Me when he got them to let Me know he wasn't happy I would
have refunded his money.. After reading His post, it seemed like He felt
like he got ripped off.. Since I believe in what I sell.. I would never
let Mac go unhappy with His purchase from Me.. I'm of course assuming
their the ones. If not, carry on :)...


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:18 am 
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Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:38 am
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Location: California
I don't think he is talking about your lenses either. He highly recommended your lenses to me when I had told him I wanted to replace the lenses on my helmet.


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