Formbox desktop vacuum former rocks it on Kickstarter making awesome, fast molds. Not just for prototypes and business, but arts and crafts, too.
Home vacuums are just about the last thing a maker would expect to help in the lab. London-based Mayku is changing that with their new Kickstarter. It’s only been a couple of days, but the Formbox has already completely eclipsed their $50,000 goal. And it’s no surprise.
Easy and Fast Molds From Your Desk
The Formbox is a desktop vacuum former, meaning it can create molds in just a few seconds. It wasn’t created only for makers, but also small businesses, individuals, and anyone who wants to create. The obvious use is for creating a small-production line from your office, but it can also be used to create prototypes and useful everyday tools. For 3D printers, it could bridge the gap between single print and reproduction with just the switch of a vacuum cleaner.
It works in a few short steps:
- Insert selected material into Formbox
- Choose your 3D template for molding
- Warm up the material by switching on the heater
- Pull material over template and switch on vacuum
- Pat yourself on the back
Vacuum-Powered Making is a lot Faster Than 3D Printing
The process is powered by your vacuum, giving it something to do other than sit in the closet. If you’re not sure what to make, there’s also a library of ideas from other users. The team has been experimenting with several casting materials, including chocolate, foam, resin, concrete, jello and ice.
Even for the numerous people who never considered using molds, Formbox makes some incredible suggestions that everyone could get behind. From forming your own soap to the soap dish it lives in, as well as terrariums and modifications for children’s toys, it sounds like an incredible crafty pastime.
The Formbox is the result of a year’s worth of testing, and the reviews are stellar. That (and the mesmerizing gifs) may be why the Kickstarter hit their goal in 24 hours, or why they’re already nearing $125,000. As Mayku says, their goal is to take tools normally found in a factory and making small, simple versions for ordinary folks to use, the Formbox is only the first example. We wonder what other ideas they have up their sleeves.
License: The text of "Formbox Kickstarts Mold-Making With Your Vacuum Cleaner" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.