Vacuum forming- plastic thickness help???

[treble01]

How flemsey/strong is the thinnest sheet of plastic that can be used for vacuum forming? I want alot of detail to come out, but I don't want to worry too much about reinforcement if I don't have to.

Thanks

 

[Pyronari]

I have never done it, but my understanding is that it is firm like a plexy glass before and after bieng heated up. If it isn't as stiff as you would like you could just add fiberglass cloth and resin on the underside and that would make it hard.

 

[misfitjh]

The problem with vac forming is you lose detail...any fine details will be gone and any sharp edges will be slightly rounded so going super detailed and vac forming do not go hand in hand. If you want alot of detail then fiberglass or rondo are the way to go. The other alternative is to build your part fiberglass it and bondo it...get the detail you want and mold it. Once molded slush cast the part with smooth cast.

 

[elettrozero]

I vacuum formed a toy car with a 2mm thick layer and really many details remained. 2mm is not that strong, 4mm would be better but it depends on the owen you own and the shape you are tying to form. For a visor I'm still trying with a 4mm but with a lot of help from the heating gun.