Design Nomenclature / Physical Model Making
Vacuum forming
Also called vac forming, vacforming, vacuum moulding
Heating thermoplastic sheet until it sags, then pulling it down over a form with vacuum. Tooling is cheap — MDF, plaster, even a printed pattern works — and one afternoon produces a housing. The sheet thins wherever it stretches most, so deep draws come out translucent at the corners and the form needs draft and vent holes.
