Jeremy at FirstBuild pulled a couple of vacuum molds for the light diffuser on the Trilife cellular computing project. Here’s a video showing a softened thick PETG sheet forming over the triangular mold:
Next you let it cool, then you tap it to knock it off, and then pull the mold down as in this video:
Because the minimum sheet size is 2×2 feet, there’s a lot of extra material to chop off, and it is 1/16″ thick. Imagine opening one of the worst blister-packs ever, except that instead of the USB stick you just bought, the prize is the blister itself. We used shears for the first one, and plan on a hot wire or laser cutter for more automation later. It will also get some paint or some sandblasting to diffuse the light.
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