Formech 686 User manual

Plastics Lab
V1.0 2/8/2018
Machine Purpose: To Form heated plastic around a mold
Safety: Must wear safety glasses while operating machine. Beware of objects that dangle and
could get caught in platen. Beware of hot plastic, fast moving parts and pinch points. This machine has
no built-in safety system.
Materials: Thermoset Plastics
Machine Specs: 24x24 raw material, 22”x22” working area, 12.8” draw depth .25” thick material, 6
heating zones
Accessories: 22”x22” & 10”x10” working area window sets (24”x24” & 12”x12” raw stock)
Instruction Required: Individual Checkout
Formech 686

Plastics Lab
V1.0 2/8/2018
Machine Initialization
1. Turn on the airline and power on the backside of the machine, and at the air hose line at the
wall. Make sure the PSI is reading 80.
2. On the main screen press the preheat button (a), then the green arrow, then select your desired
job/material profile. If a desired profile is not present, you will need to create one in the building
a profile menu (b).
a.
b.
3. Press Green arrow button
4. Machine will be fully heated once the protective grating above heating elements is
uncomfortable to touch, generally 15-20 minutes
Building Job Profile
1. Job Profiles: are built for specific molds, but
may be generalized for specific materials.
2. To enter the job profile page, click the profile
selection button (b).
3. From here you can build a profile that is specific
to your project or material properties.
4. Things to set
a. Name of your profile
b. Heat Zones – How large is your material, does the entire bed need to heat or only the
interior
c. Heat Intensity – Temperature of each heater in each zone, this will be dependent on
material, operation time, mold design
d. Heater Standby – How much the heaters can cool while the heater tray is in the rear
position
e. Auto Vacuum – Do you want the vacuum to automatically turn on when the table has
rise to its highest extents.
f. Auto Blower - This operation enables the beam sensor to provide automatic levelling of
the sheet level during heating. Compressed air is applied under the heated sheet when
the beam is broken.
g. Save Icon

Plastics Lab
V1.0 2/8/2018
Changing Material Window
1. Release toggle clamps (c) and lift clamping handles so upper
window is pivoted up
2. Lift off lower window from alignment pins at the rear of the
table, replace with desired window size
3. Upper window unbolts front and back with single nut/bolt
combo, store old upper window
4. Place new upper window against new installed lower window
and lower arm over upper window and bolt into place
Loading Material/Mold
1. With desired window size installed and no material or your mold
loaded, raise the bed to its most elevated position using two
green buttons (beneath the toggle clamps) pushed simultaneously(c). The table should raise
rapidly. If the vacuum pump turns on press the vacuum button (d).
d.
2. With table raised, fit mold in open window centered as best as possible, though the vacuum
hole at the bottom of the table needs to be covered by your mold. Make sure the metal screen
material is on the table.
3. Once satisfied with mold position lower table using the table down button (e) to just below
where material will droop but making sure the plastic will not touch once drooped.
e.
4. With upper window raised, place plastic sheeting over foam outline. Material must cover all of
the foam table.
5. Lower upper window, clamp the toggle clamps to secure down.
Image C

Plastics Lab
V1.0 2/8/2018
Operation
1. With machine fully preheated, using the correct profile for your material, the correct window
size installed, your mold positioned, and your material loaded, slide the heater over your
material (this will initialize the timer). Reference guide for how long to expect for each material
type/thickness to droop.
2. Keep an eye on the material. After some time it will rise, flatten then droop. Once it has
drooped you will typically count to about 8, then it will be ready to be formed. *
3. Once material is ready, push heater all the way back in a firm solid motion, (this will stop the
timer)
4. Press & hold both green buttons to raise the table to its fullest height. At this time if your profile
calls for auto vacuum it will engage, if not engage the vacuum manually (d).
5. After material has formed and plastic temperature has dropped to a comfortable touch level,
typically max of 30 seconds, turn off vacuum pump.
6. To aid in mold removal, press the mold release button to blast air into the chamber (f).
f.
7. With mold released, lower table using the table lower button (e).
8. Release toggle clamps, replace stock sheet and restart process.**

Plastics Lab
V1.0 2/8/2018
Icon descriptions
Heater timer
Shows the heater time. Press on the time value to adjust the heat timer on the operation
screen. The time cannot be adjusted in manual mode.
Pre-Stretch
This operation will turn on the compressed air valve to allow air to flow into the sealed cabinet.
This function does not latch. Press & hold to run. The Icon will change colour when pressed.
Vacuum
This operation will latch the pump and the vacuum valve on to apply vacuum to the table
hole. The Icon will change colour when pressed.
Fan timer
This operation will latch the fan on for the time set for loaded settings. The fans will turn off
when the time has elapsed. The Icon will change colour when pressed. Press again at any
time to stop the fan.
Release
This operation will apply compressed air to the table hole. This function does not latch but will
unlatch the vacuum. Press & hold to run. The Icon will change colour when pressed.
Table down
This operation will drive the table down. This function does not latch so it can be used to
lower the table in steps if required. Also see section regarding the setting of table speed.
Save
When in the operation screen this allows the user to save the program or the times just used
onto the memory and store as a new job. This function opens the settings screen. Also used
on settings screens to save memory changes.

Plastics Lab
V1.0 2/8/2018
Back
This operation will exit the main operation screen and return to the main menu screen.
Auto-level
This operation enables the beam sensor to provide automatic levelling of the sheet level
during heating. Compressed air is applied under the heated sheet when the beam is broken.
This button latches and may be unlatched at any time.
Auto-Vacuum
This function allows the vacuum to be triggered by a limit switch mounted on the cylinder.
When this feature is enabled the vacuum will be turned on automatically when the table is
driven up. The switch position is adjustable.
Settings
This button provides access to the settings screen where the operating parameters may be
adjusted.
Notes:
* You will fine-tune the amount of time after a few pulls. The timer keeps track of from when you
pulled the heater forward to when you pushed back.
** If there are any issues (webbing, thinning, mold not releasing, etc) with your mold refer to the
guide books in the machine manual to evaluate your issues.