How To Vacuum Form

http://youtu.be/eE26y-r63vY, track byDanny Dive Thru

I am very pleased to finally publish this new project I’ve been working on the last couple months (def. not a Speed Project ;) It was premiered last week at my solo show opening ‘Reply All’ at [DAM] Berlin.  If you are in town drop by, check out the show and make your own mask! FOR FREE!!

‘Reply All’
Solo show: Aram Bartholl, January 28 – 10th March 10  2012
[DAM] Berlin, Neue Jakobstr. 6/7, 10179 Berlin

Materials:

• polysterol 1-1,5 mm, 23 x 33 cm
• plaster
• hose, hose connectors
• clamps
• vacuum hand pump, (camping supply)
• toaster
• wooden board, rods
• stop watch
• original, prototype or master mask to make copies from

Tutorial:

1. positive plaster cast from mask
2. additional plaster modeling (chin and forehead) optional
3. negative plaster cast from model to obtain master mold
4. include hose, hose connector and holes for decompression in the cast
5. toaster parts rearranged to heating board, mounted on stand
6. heat 1mm polysterol approx. 2 min in 6cm distance
7. and keep pumping !!

all pics on flickr!

Vacuum forming is a quite old technique and is used a lot in mass industry especially packaging and such. The lid of your coffee cup is vacuum form i.e. Students in product design are used to vacuum form their prototypes, it’s a very common technique in that field. You also find all kinds of tutorials on the web how to build your own DIY vacuum former (Instructables). The one I am proposing is less flexible in what you can produce but are able to produce the same piece in a rather fast cycle (2:30 min) The setup above was inspired by this video.
I think we live in a super interesting era. This is just the start of a paradigm shift from mass industry production to self DIY fabrication. And it s going to get very interesting with all the patents and copyright issues for physical objects very soon. Like Cory Doctorow puts it: “… to fight what we thought was the final boss at the end of the game, but it turns out it’s just been the mini-boss at the end of the level, and the stakes are only going to get higher.” I am super curious to see someone print a pair of Nike sneakers on the new makerbot replicator or just imagine Apple would sue everyone because your DIY tablet looks like an iPad. It might happen soon. – Aram Bartholl 2012

Build your own vacuum forming gear today. Copy, experiment and remix! Start coping physical things! And keep pumping!! ;)

Transparent Guy Fawkes

“You don’t know the power of the dark side! We are Legion. The force is with you. Expect us. Join the dark side !”

Darth Fawkes

a.k.a. Tim Pritlove … ;)

“How To Vacuum Form”
by Aram Bartholl 2012