NonPareil: French Pastry School & Formech

Chicago’s City Colleges have one of the finest culinary academy’s of any American city, known as the French Pastry School (FPS).  Headed by co-founders, Chefs Jacquy Pfeiffer and Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F., FPS specializes in pastry arts education.  Formech is also a proud sponsor of FPS and took the opportunity recently to host a workshop for their latest graduating class (72 students) on, “Forming Unique Chocolate Molds”.

Since Formech specializes in a machine designed specifically with the chocolate/confectioner industry in mind, it is a natural fit to partner with an institution such as FPS.  Our 300XQ Chocolatier vacuum forming machine has many features that make forming molds, trays and even bespoke packaging a breeze.

Nic Neath, General Manager of Formech Inc, joined the FPS graduates to elaborate on the many uses of vacuum forming in their industry.  He used their existing machine to demonstrate that  a way to set one’s self apart from the crowd, is with unique molds.

While there are several options for tooling designs, Nic demonstrated four simple techniques the students could put into practice with ease as well as discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each method:

1. Forming over an existing object.
   
2. Cast an existing object and make copies.
   
3. Sculpt a new creation and form over.
   
4. CNC Mill.
   

He explained the use of a mold resin material like Smooth-On and its usefulness in casting.  Further, he talked about the most commonly utilized materials in making chocolate molds and packaging, emphasizing the need for food grade materials approved by the FDA. Finally he provided an overview of the most helpful tips and tricks for creating perfectly formed objects with their Formech machine.  See the gallery below for a look into Formech’s visit to FPS.

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For more information on Formech Vacuum Forming machines, their use in the confectionery industry and more, contact us today for a consultation: 312-396-4072; sales@formechinc.com.

DIY Tooling (Molds) for Ceramic Tiles

There are a number of ways to produce the tooling/molds for this particular application.

1. Take an existing ceramic tile and vacuum form over the tile. Providing the tile has a good texture, there should be enough relief to allow the vacuum to draw over the tile in order to get decent definition. Ideally the molds need to have small 1mm – 1.5mm vacuum holes drilled in all the recesses. Then use the vacuum-forming to pour in liquid epoxy resin to create the production tool.

Figure 1. Existing ceramic tile beneath vacuum-forming.

 

2. Take the vacuum forming and turn it upside down. Then mix up an epoxy resin with an aluminium powder filler and pour it into the vacuum-forming. Make sure to apply a release agent to the vacuum-forming to help with the mold release when the resin has cured.

Figure 2. Pour liquid epoxy resin with an aluminium powder filler into the vacuum-forming.  **Please note that silicon sheet cannot be vacuum-formed.

 

3. When the resin has cured, remove it from the vacuum-forming.  Depending on the resin used, there may be the need to post-cure the resin in an oven. This will stop the resin from becoming too flexible as the mold gets hot during the production of vacuum-formings.

 

 

 

4. Once the mold has been fully cured, drill 1mm – 1.5mm vacuum holes in the recesses and corners of the mold.

 

 

 

5. To obtain the maximum detail from the ceramic tiles, cast a liquid silicone rubber over the tile.  When the silicone has set, pour the epoxy resin into the silicone rubber mold to create the production mold. Be certain to place the silicone mold on a flat surface and support it all around the outer edges with wood or steel so that it remains square while the epoxy resin goes hard.

 

For more about Formech vacuum formers and the vacuum-forming process, call, email, or visit our website now.

Excellence in service, support and production have made Formech a market stalwart who can boast over 30 years of business building with consistent product innovation.  Over 8000 customers worldwide from industry giants to renowned design and prototyping companies to prestigious engineering and design schools and more, have chosen Formech. Contact us today, you’ll be in great company.

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Case Study: Formech & University of Iowa + Special Offer for Schools

Students in the University of Iowa’s Environmental Design Program design and create products with an emphasis on sustainability.  They are especially interested in the future of sustainable plastics.  Environmental Design focuses on human interaction with the interior and exterior environment.  One class was asked to redesign things that are used on a daily basis to better suit specific tasks using the school’s Formech 1372 vacuum former.

Their first thermoforming project was to design and create a bowl with a particular food in mind.  Some students created shapes designed to hold kiwis, Chinese dumplings, and more.  One student’s design for a bowl with three “nodes” (below) was created out of a love for M&M’s.  The idea being people sitting around a table would gravitate to their own node without the need to pass the bowl.  The bowl’s dynamic curves allows one to get a handful without spillage.  The tri-node bowl was created using the Formech1372 machine with an ABS 3-D print for the mold and a sheet of PETG (which is safe for use with food) for the form.

Angela Regas, Instructional Services Specialist at University of Iowa expressed, “From the very beginning, we were impressed with the quality of design of the 1372 machine.  The size allows us to work at a human scale.  We’ve been able to work closely with Formech, which has helped a lot as we introduce a brand-new component to our program.”

Those in attendance of Formech’s visit to the University of Iowa included:  Charles Romans, 3D Design grad student; Allison Holden, 3D Design grad student; Yi Xie, 3D Design grad student; Monica Correia, 3D Design professor; and Angela Regas, Instructional Services Specialist.

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SPECIAL OFFER FROM FORMECH TO ALL INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING

Formech has a variety of vacuum forming machines to suit the thermoforming needs of any design or trade program.  Click the image below to download and view our full catalog.  Then follow up with a call 312-396-4072 or email: sales@formechinc.com to discuss with our experts the exact requirements for your group.  Just as we’ve done with the University of Iowa and other schools, we look forward to being a hands-on ally with your machine purchase and implementation into your curriculum.

 

Formech Vacuumforming Machines & Equipment Catalog–In Downloadable PDF!

Is your old thermoforming machine giving you a headache?  Perhaps it’s time for an update.  Or maybe you’re just starting out in the hot field of rapid prototyping.  Consider Formech Vacuum Forming machines to give you that competitive edge.  With 30 years as an industry leader, picture yourself forming to perfection with one of Formech’s top notch machines by your side.

Download our catalog and see what your future could be like with a Formech.  View all the machines we offer AND their specifications.  Did you know we can also create a custom built model to suit your specific needs?  Take a look now, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for with Formech.

Formech Americas, Formech Inc, Thermoforming/Vacuumforming Machines Catalog

Formech Vacuum Forming Guide Online

Everything you want and need to know about vacuum forming is in this handy guide from Formech, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vacuum forming, thermoforming, and packaging machines.  Check the link for your free download and if you still have any questions, feel free to send them to us!  We’re always happy to share with you what we know.  

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DIY: How to Easily Replicate Existing Patterns and Tooling

Formech: Forming to Perfection Create a box for your mold to support the sides and bottom. This will also make an environment for you to pour your resin so that you decrease the chances of spilling or uneven pouring. Keep the size and shape in mind when building the box. This example is rather large and will be quite heavy when completely filled. Select a casting resin that will be able to withstand the heat from the thermoforming process. This particular resin has an aluminum base and will do the job well. Other resins that are useable for this process have mineral a mineral base. Companies like Smooth-On make several viable options (i.e. Task 18). These resins come in two parts, the resin and the activator. The most common ratios are 1:1 or 1:10 and are always measured by weight. www.smooth-on.com Using an electric mixing attachment is vital to achieve uniform consistency so that all the resin cures properly. When purchasing a resign pay attention to the pot life. This is the amount of time you have to work with the resign before it starts to cure. Next we will allow the mixed resin to sit for a 1-5 minutes to release any air bubbles that may be present. Air bubbles can have a drastic effect on the aesthetic and functionality of the tooling. Remember to coat all surfaces of the mold with mold release so that you can easily extract the finished tooling. Then apply a thin layer of casting resin to the surface of the mold. Including this step will drastically reduce air bubbles on the surface of the tooling and leave a a smooth exterior. Once you have coated the mold it is time to pour the rest of the compound into the cavity being mindful of the pot life. Once it is cured (cure times will very), you should easily be able to separate the cast (or tooling) from the mold provided you used he mold release properly. To sign up for our monthly newsletters please email us at info@formechinc.com Formech Inc – Forming to Perfection Visit our website at www.formechinc.com