5 replies to this topic

[peptide]

Has anyone tried vacuum forming a formicarium?

I was thinking of making a formicarium that hangs on the wall. Instead of the opaque walls and a flat transparent cover I was wondering how it would look if you had a flat wall and then vacuum formed tunnels onto it.

I realize the plastic wouldn't be as clear as museum glass but you would be able to see below, above and the side of your ants.

humidity would be handled by the wall. I already have a water pump that drips water to another project --- I could make the wall hollow/sponge, has some tiny holes / mesh into where tunnels are, pump water to the top allowing it to drip down and even hide all the tubing in the wall.

What are you folks thoughts?

 

Attached Images

• 

Edited by peptide, November 17 2023 - 2:34 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Can you explain vacuum forming? Seems like you’d have clear bubbles coming out of a wall?

[peptide]

Can you explain vacuum forming? Seems like you’d have clear bubbles coming out of a wall?

A Plastic sheet is heated until it is soft then dropped onto a mold (it this case the mold would be in the shape the tunnels, made from wood or clay) and a vacuum quickly sucks away the air causing the plastic to take the exact shape of the mold. The plastic cools and it will then keep the shape of the mold.

 

Attached Images

• 

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I'd avoid use of plastics for such myself.

I recently made a top down view perfect cast nest and got a plexi top for it instead of glass, at the urging of a frame shop worker where i was buying the glass.
But i found out that the heated and humidified nest inside vs. the not heated and not humidified outside. Caused the plexi to warp and gap. I had to replace it with glass after one weekend.

 

Plastics in general are not going to stand up well to longer term ongoing heat. And clear plastics will commonly become hazy/tinted, eventually becoming brittle and easily broken.
 

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, November 17 2023 - 9:09 AM.

[100lols]

I’d like to see the design come to life. Makes sense and should be doable if you have what’s needed for vacuum forming the chambers.

How would you heat the nest?

[antsriondel]

I'd avoid use of plastics for such myself.

I recently made a top down view perfect cast nest and got a plexi top for it instead of glass, at the urging of a frame shop worker where i was buying the glass.
But i found out that the heated and humidified nest inside vs. the not heated and not humidified outside. Caused the plexi to warp and gap. I had to replace it with glass after one weekend.

 

Plastics in general are not going to stand up well to longer term ongoing heat. And clear plastics will commonly become hazy/tinted, eventually becoming brittle and easily broken.
 

I agree with this but I will fight for the other side in this case. I believe that yes over a prolonged period of time the plastic will beginning to warp. In other cases Ihave seen plastic last for years under heat with no warping whatsoever. As long as you take precautions in reinforcing the plastic. Just my opinion.