CNC Manufacturing 2

Assignment 

In CNC Manufacturing 2 you will use the model that you Laser Cut and assembled in the previous phase as a pattern to thermoform a PVC sheet on top of it using the Vacuum Forming Machine in the Fab Lab. The pattern is inserted into the machine and lowered into it, the PVC sheet is placed on the platform above it and heated, once the sheet is flexible enough the pattern is raised against the sheet and a vacuum process sucks the excess air from the entire mold adapting the PVC sheet to the pattern. The process requires around 10 min per pattern. You can visualize the process at this link.

Instructions

The Instructions below foresee that you have already cut and assembled your laser-cut pieces from the Fab Lab ahead of the session. If you haven’t already done that make sure that you pass-by the Fab Lab ahead of time retrieve your pieces and glue them as it’s essential for the glue to be dry (for at least an hour) before the thermoforming process to avoid breaking your pattern.

What you need to do in the Fab Lab

1- Make sure your Laser Cut pieces are assembled at least a day before the next step.
2- Thermoform your piece (one student at a time) with the help of the Fab Lab Team. Once you’re done thermoforming, leave the Fab Lab don’t continue the work there.
3- Document the process and take care of your model as it will be used in other exercises down the road.

What you need to do after thermoforming

1-Remove the pattern from the sheet
2-Cut the excess sheet following the base line
3-Take pictures of your work following the template below (of both pattern thermoformed sheet) use a horizontal A3 150 DPI.
4-Submit your work in the Blog and on Moodle (Make sure to include the process as well (nested pieces, thermoforming, cutting assembling etc.)
5-you can find a good example of what’s need to be submitted at this link

Submission

Blog: Pictures following the template above as well as the process
Moodle: High definition pictures on the template above as well as of the process