Mayku FormBox

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The Mayku FormBox is a vacuum forming machine that heats and vacuums thin sheets of plastic around 3D forms. The shapes used for forming can be anything from wooden blocks to 3D printed parts. The sheets of formed plastic can be used for creating food-safe molds, product packaging, cosplay replicas, decorative pieces and more.

The Mayku FormBox puts the power of making into your hands. Powered by any vacuum cleaner, it helps the user to form materials into any shape needed. Vacuum forming is a simple process where you take a sheet of soft (nearly molten) plastic and use suction to conform it to the shape of a template. There is a ceramic heater inside which prepares the plastic to form. Carefully placed fans keep the FormBox running cool, meaning it works with a world of materials.

3D printing is great for making your first prototypes, but 3D printers are difficult to use for mass production. “Vacuforming” is a great way to move up from small to medium scale production. A “vacuforming” machine pairs perfectly with your 3D printer because you can use the printer to make the template, and then use the “vacuforming” machine to make dozens or hundreds of duplicates quickly. 


What does the Makerplace provide?

 

What do I need?

Customers will need to bring in an object to use as a template for their form.


How do I use it?

Here is a quick overview of the “vacuforming” process. 

  • Get a template. You can design and print one with a 3D printer, mold it out of clay or just use things you have laying around the house or office. 
  • Clamp the plastic sheet into the tray, set the heater and start the timer. 
  • Place your template on the bed. 
  • When the timer is done, the sheet is ready. Push it down onto the bed. 
  • The FormBox will automatically turn on your vacuum for the right amount of time and the plastic sheet will form to your template. After letting the plastic cool for a brief moment (15 seconds) you can unclamp it from the tray and pop out the template. 

 

What materials can I use?

You can create casts with resin, plaster, chocolate, soap, concrete and jesmonite. 

The Mayku cast sheets are transparent. These sheets are made from PETg. They are for making molds to cast things out of other materials, but they can also be used to make clear objects. The material is food safe and is also recyclable. 

The Mayku form sheets are solid white. They are made from Polystyrene. These sheets are perfect for stormtrooper armor, but they are also great for painting. 

This equipment is available to use free of charge. Materials are available for purchase to assist in using this equipment. See all materials and prices here. You may also bring your own materials (all outside materials must be approved by Makerplace staff before use).
 

More Resources

Tips and tricks

The size of the FormBox bed is 200 millimeters by 200 millimeters. The maximum width and length you are able to mold is 150 millimeters by 150 millimeters. To avoid tearing the plastic, we suggest not vacuum forming anything taller than it is wide. 

You can use silicone sheets for creating casts, but silicone is not compatible with Mayku for forming. This device molds from plastic sheets formed over an object. You could make a mold from an object and then make a solid (like plaster) and then place the solid in a container of liquid silicone to dry. Then you would have a silicone mold.