Do we need a plastic shop committee

DMS General
#1

Continuing the discussion from Acrylic Bending Table:

It seems that none of our existing ‘shop’ committees really have any interest in working with plastic material. I first noticed this with the vacuum forming machine, which as far as I know, still has not been adopted by a committee. And this bending device is similar.

Plastic is perhaps one of the most common materials makers use; however, the space really doesn’t have any well defined tools/processes for members to work with it.

A recent thread asking about using the metal shop horizontal band saw for cutting large diameter plastic rod was another example.

#2

Perhaps it could be an addition to 3D fab, since the 3d printers work with plastic. It would be nice to have a small area dedicated to the vacuum former and acrylic bender. I think we also have a rotomolder on loan that could be part of it.

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#3

Continuing on this line of thought, I have previously offered to donate a very lightly used 2-speed band saw for use on plastics. Maybe 5 hours total of run time. The offer still stands, it looks like we may be getting a core group of equipment for dealing with plastics. While the posting received 4 likes there was zero responses of interest. I might add that it can have casters put on it so it wouldn’t need dedicated space in the middle of anywhere, it’s 110V so no special power requirements. I realize space is at a premium if the Space wants it I’ll put casters on it. I have no problem with it being under the auspices 3D since it is primarily printing in plastics (for now).

Nobody wants plastics gumming up their blades and plastics folks would prefer work areas free of metal chips

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#4

I would be interested in working with plastic some. I would love to make some jewelry displays that are not subject to melting in the rain (most of the ones that are available are cardboard) . I intend to make some wooden ones, but some plastic ones that are lightweight would also be great.

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#5

I know I’m still fairly new and all, but I’m going to throw in my $0.02. I believe there is an area of interest here that could be housed by a committee, however not sure either 3D fab or Creative Arts really want to absorb. I also think it’s larger than just “plastic”. @Bill has a thread recently where he was looking for a band saw to trim plastic, I too found myself wondering as I held an abs 3D model in my hand late one night. Between the Acrylic Bending Table and @Photomancer’s 2 speed band saw, I think we could have a sort of “Alternative Materials” area. In my mind it’s a group that yes, could handle plastic, but would be general purpose for anything not wood/metal. Cosplayers could use the area to work with thermoplastics like worbla, rubber molds (like the classes Max already teaches), handle resins, foam, etc. We have Reynold’s Advanced Materials like a block away from us (Smooth-On distributor), I’m sure I can talk with them and get some cross pollination between their classes and our membership. It would also open a whole new world of potential classes/members.

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#6

Will said. Plastics are usually part of some other project and not usually a project in an of itself - so not sure if a Committee is warranted if for no other reason to hold and maintain the equipment.

When the Mandalorian Cosplay group was at the Space, they brought in a very small hobby table top band saw to use. But it had very limited throat depth, maybe 6", mine has a 12" throat depth and cut up to 6" in thickness (sorry Bill won’t help you) and the table is 23" x 27", stands 58" tall and the legs create a base of about 32" X 32". I might add that a small scroll saw mounted on plywood could easily be stored on base underneath and set on a table when needed - again avoiding contamination of the woodshop saw and not requiring additional floor storage space. There are definitely users such as myself that work with plastic and non-wood/metal.

Attached is picture of the same model bandsaw as mine - showing it in a tilted position.
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bandsaw.JPG680×958 107 KB

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#7

Here’s a manual on forming Acrylic/Plexiglass, while it is designed for more commercial applications, it does have heating temps, reforming temps, and forming times. Here’s for cold Forming This site has various temps for various plastics and the way to measure the temp (ideally 10 places, each corner and center on BOTH sides) SERIES: THERMOFORMING

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#8

I love the idea of specifically plastics/acrylic area but space and space negotiation is always the issue. I’m honestly not the person to take this donations (I want all the things I check up on to be in one room). I hope someone steps up - could be an interesting addition and I know lots of people are interested in plastics/acrylics. Kisses

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#9

With the exception of the vacuum former, much of this equipment seems like it can be mobile: set up as-needed with access to power, take steps to trap/clean any dust/cuttings, perform work, put away when done.

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#10

My understanding is that all tools need a committee to ‘sponser’ them. As it stands we don’t have any committee that seems willing to take responsibility for plastic specific tooling. To me, if none of the existing committees are willing, then we need a new committee.

That is if we need plastic specific tooling.

Space is a whole other issue.

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#11

Some items are very specific: Vacuformer, the bender etc. The others will greatly help avoid cross-contamination of other tools and could be set-up with the proper blades/cutters, etc. Also things like sonic welders are great.

If there are Makers interested in supporting a Plastics committee, let me know. I can set up an exploratory meeting the first week of November after all the elections to see: what it’s goals would be, what interests/projects it serves, and how much real interest there. If sufficient interest exists we can put together a proposal. It seems there is equipment out there ready to be donated, most is compact and/or portable/rollable. Some other items are easy to build, like a Hot Wire Cutter for use on foam and other thin material. (I bought 10’ of the wire from Tanners a month ago for use in cutting foam, need an appropriate transformer). I don’t see Plastics as needing much in the way of funds, just the hardest thing to come by: some space to store it when not in use.

So if interested or more comments or items that might be donated (thinking small scroll saw maybe)

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#12

I’m not sure a completely new committee needs to be formed; and, I’m not opposed to the 3D Fabrication Committee becoming something along the lines of “The 3D Fabrication and Plastic Prototyping Committee” (aka: 3D Fab cuz the other is a mouthful! haha…).

Just as I have specialists in the 3D Fab Committee already (Mitch over Classes & Curriculum, Shaun over the 3D Scanner, Matt & Matthew over the PrintrBot…), IF we try to expand 3D Fab to encompass tooling for acrylic/plastics, I would need specialists willing to take ownership of the particular tool(s) they have expertise in…

Additionally, we would need to have a dedicated area in the general workshop to store the tools. We would need an area large enough for the vacuformer, plus the equivalent of about two “Allen Tables” to put the tools on during the use (with shelves built under them to store the tools).

If there are members who want to:

  • Negotiate with the current area-holders to acquire the area we would need
  • Volunteer to build a couple tables sturdy enough for the saws (with storage under them to store the tools when not in use)
  • Volunteer to be the ‘specialist’ for any associated tools…

Then let’s do this!

BTW… Here is the current org chart (for lack of better description) that I’ve been working on. I hadn’t printed/posted it yet, because I need to update the wiki to better reflect some of the changes in who trains on what, etc… :wink:

3D Fabrication Committee Org Chart.jpg1368×985 95.7 KB

Edit to add: Arg. I just realized I hadn’t updated the colors on that chart… The three specialist on the right side will most likely have a light orange background when I get ready to print/post it… :wink:

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#13

Sounds great to me, fewer committees are easier to manage.

The saw already has a stand that shelf could easily be added to hold another small tool, such as a small scroll saw or Hot Wire Cutter. If there’s anyway I can help, let me know.

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#14

Facebook has kept adverts for plastic saw blades on my screen for the last week. It actually looks like a good idea. These particular blades are designed to leave smooth cuts, so the edges of the plastic are ready for polishing. It makes me think that we might expand our selection of blades and plastic-forming equipment.

Plastic forming should be useful to the members, and I’m glad that Walter suggested a committee for it. I considered making it part of Science Committee, but it didn’t seem like the best fit. Even so, we could certainly use it for several of our projects.

It also would be nice if we could work with glass. Just throwing that out there…

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#16

That is correct, sir! :slight_smile:

This, however… not necessarily the case. :wink:

Anyway, I am just popping in to see if there is any new activity on this thread… I had replied that if I could get members who are willing to offer their time and expertise to be specialists, etc… I would be glad to bring plastic tooling under the 3D Fab Committee umbrella… :slight_smile:
(I just cannot do it all alone! :wink: )

I see that David (@Tron) has withdrawn his message about him feeling it would be better served under the Science Committee; and, I don’t see any responses from Richard (@Opcode) to David’s post, so I don’t know if David reconsidered or ??

That being said, there is still potential for it to happen… We just need to hear from those most interested, in how they plan to help make it happen!

If it comes under 3D Fab, then please step up as a “specialist” if you have the desire/motivation to do so! (being a specialist just means you will be the primary point of contact for any particular tool that you are a specialist for… :slight_smile: )

Thanks!

Lisa
:smile:

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#17

No. Tron hates having any public record of his existence, so he always deletes all his posts within a few hours. I thought about responding to his very good points, but decided I would wait to see if anyone else had any replies to them.

I think that a Plastics Committee would have been a great idea, just like a Wood Shop or Metal Shop would be. When I create my own makerspace, I’ll have to include that in it. As for us… I wish I could be more help, but I don’t know a thing about crafting plastics. I think those of us in Science Committee who are building the nitrogen laser are learning quite a bit about crafting plastics in the process.

#18

If all these plastic tools fall under 3D fab’s realm I will definitely have to learn how to use and teach all the tools, I’m not opposed to this. Will we be responsible fixing and maintaining the vacuum former, acrylic bender, etc?

Also I hope maybe this could open us up to other plastic tools like desktop injection molding, rotocaster, plastic recycling/extrusion, etc

I’d even like to see a class on polymer science.

We need a better name than “The 3D Fabrication and Plastic Prototyping Committee”, maybe something like the Melted Plastics Committee

#19

I assume you saw this?


I know nothing about it, but…

#20

Yes It would take up floor space and we would need to have a class on how to make use of it. We could make one as well.

#22

Time will be tight this weekend, but Science Committee could discuss at our next meeting what we could offer for a plastics forming group. I think that Science Committee has the better location for the equipment than 3D Fab does. Much of the equipment in question is only a few feet from our area, now. 3D Fab is already crowded just with the demand for its four 3D printers. Science Committee opens out to the workbench area. It would be natural for people to borrow tools from Science Committee, then use them on a nearby workbench.

The vacuformer requires 3-phase, 230 Volt electricity. Any kind of serious industrial equipment is going to require more than the 110 available in the front of the building.

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