Carlos 3D made toy packaging with his vacuum former

Carlos 3D is a French-Mexican engineer and maker with a deep passion for 3D design, robotics, pop culture, and new technologies. Over the years, he has brought countless creative projects to life using tools like 3D printers and laser cutters, including a fully functional Iron Man suit!

With all of his expertise, Carlos was the perfect person to try out our FORMART S desktop vacuum former. In his video (in French), he walks viewers through his first experience with the machine, from the moment he unboxes it to creating packaging for his own 3D printed action figures.

Carlos takes the time to demonstrate how to set up and operate the vacuum former step by step, making it approachable even for beginners. He also shares some valuable tips along the way. For instance, he explains the importance of pressing down on the frame while vacuum forming to ensure a clean seal, and he recommends allowing the PET plastic to cool thoroughly to avoid a foggy finish on the final product.

Then comes the fun part: bringing his action figure packaging to life! For another project, Carlos had created detailed 3D printed models of custom X-Men figures. Using the FORMART S, he gives them the full retail treatment by designing a cardboard backing and vacuum forming clear blister packaging over moulds made to fit each figure.

A particularly helpful piece of advice he shares is to design your moulds with draft angles (slight slopes on the sides) so that the mould can be removed easily from the formed plastic without damaging the shape. This small design detail makes a big difference in the vacuum forming process.
If you're interested in learning more about how to design effective moulds, be sure to check out our guide to designing vacuum forming moulds.

The final result is nothing short of impressive! Carlos’ custom X-Men figurines look as though they’ve just come off a toy shop shelf. His packaging is clean, clear, and perfectly fitted to each item, demonstrating how powerful a tool vacuum forming can be for makers and creators.

To explore more of Carlos’ innovative projects, head over to his YouTube channel or visit his website.

Machines

• 3D printer
• Inkjet printer
• MY YARD FORMART S vacuum former

Materials

• 3D printing filament
• Cardboard
• Glue
• Paper
• PET sheet