Vacuum Former Comparison | External Vacuum Cleaner, Hybrid Pump, and Single Vacuum Pump

Common vacuum source designs used in vacuum formers can generally be divided into external vacuum cleaners, hybrid pump systems, and single vacuum pumps. These systems differ not only in their maximum vacuum level, but also in their Pressure–Flow Curve characteristics.

Does a vacuum former need an external vacuum cleaner?

Not necessarily. Vacuum formers with a built-in vacuum pump do not require an external vacuum cleaner. Only machines that use an external vacuum cleaner as their vacuum source require one to be connected separately.

Using MYYARD’s previous vacuum system designs as examples, FORMART Lite used an external vacuum cleaner with a tested vacuum level of approximately -10 to -20 kPa. FORMART S and FORMART 3, on the other hand, integrate the vacuum pump directly into the machine and therefore do not require an external vacuum cleaner.

However, whether or not a vacuum cleaner is required is only the first difference between vacuum source designs. When comparing vacuum formers, it is also important to consider vacuum level, airflow, and the Pressure–Flow Curve, because different vacuum systems build vacuum in different ways.

What are the common vacuum source designs used in vacuum formers?

Vacuum forming uses negative pressure to pull a heated plastic sheet against a mold, making the vacuum source one of the key components of a vacuum former.

Common designs can generally be divided into the following types:

Looking only at specifications, it is easy to compare the maximum vacuum level of each system.

However, to further compare a hybrid pump system with a single vacuum pump, the maximum kPa value alone is not enough. The complete Pressure–Flow Curve also needs to be considered.

Why did FORMART S switch from an external vacuum cleaner to a built-in vacuum pump?

FORMART S replaced the external vacuum cleaner used by FORMART Lite with a built-in single AC Induction Vacuum Pump, reaching a maximum vacuum level of -90 kPa.

What is the difference between a hybrid pump system and a single vacuum pump?

MYYARD’s Pressure–Flow Curve data shows that the hybrid dual-pump system in FORMART 2 has a noticeable dip in the curve, while FORMART 3, which uses a single vacuum pump, follows a single continuous slope.

This is one of the key differences between the vacuum systems used in FORMART 2 and FORMART 3.

• DC Brushless Pump + AC Induction Vacuum Pump
• Initial airflow > 200 L/min
• Maximum vacuum: -90 kPa
• Noticeable dip in the Pressure–Flow Curve

➡️

• Single 300W vacuum pump
• Initial airflow approx. 110 L/min
• Maximum vacuum: -92 kPa
• Pressure–Flow Curve follows a single continuous slope

Vacuum forming is not only about maximum vacuum level

At the beginning of the forming process, the plastic sheet is still hot and highly formable. As air is removed, the sheet contacts the mold, and heat continues to dissipate, the sheet temperature gradually drops. This means the effective forming window is limited.

FORMART 2 uses a hybrid dual-pump system. At the beginning of the process, it uses higher airflow to remove air quickly, then moves into a lower-flow, higher-vacuum operating range. The Pressure–Flow Curve shows a clear change in slope between these two operating regions.

Looking only at maximum vacuum level, the difference is only about 2 kPa.

However, the complete Pressure–Flow Curve shows that the two vacuum system architectures behave differently.

This is why the FORMART 3 upgrade should not be understood simply as an increase from -90 kPa to -92 kPa.

Another major change is the move from a hybrid dual-pump system to a single 300W vacuum pump.

Why should you not compare vacuum formers by maximum vacuum level alone?

Because maximum vacuum is only one part of vacuum system performance. The Pressure–Flow Curve also shows how airflow changes as vacuum level increases.

Take FORMART 2 and FORMART 3 as examples:

FORMART 2 reaches up to -90 kPa, while FORMART 3 reaches up to -92 kPa.

If we only look at these two numbers, the difference appears relatively small.

But once the Pressure–Flow Curve is included, another difference becomes clear:

FORMART 2: Hybrid dual-pump system with a noticeable dip in the curve

FORMART 3: Single vacuum pump with a single continuous slope

So when comparing commercially available vacuum formers, it is useful to look beyond maximum vacuum level and consider both the vacuum source architecture and the complete Pressure–Flow Curve.

What is the difference between an external vacuum cleaner, a hybrid pump system, and a single vacuum pump?

MYYARD’s product development can also be viewed through two clear vacuum system transitions:

How should you choose between an external vacuum cleaner, a hybrid pump system, and a single vacuum pump?

If you are simply getting started with vacuum forming and do not need a higher vacuum level, a machine that uses an external vacuum cleaner may be sufficient. If you want the machine itself to provide a higher vacuum level, a model with a built-in vacuum pump is the better choice. When comparing hybrid and single-pump systems, it is also important to look beyond maximum vacuum level and examine how the Pressure–Flow Curve changes throughout the forming process.

Is an external vacuum cleaner enough for entry-level vacuum forming?

If your main goal is to get started with vacuum forming and you do not require a higher vacuum level, an external vacuum cleaner can be used as the vacuum source.

MYYARD’s previous FORMART Lite used an external vacuum cleaner, with tested vacuum levels of approximately -10 to -20 kPa. Because this type of machine requires a separate vacuum cleaner, it is important to check whether a vacuum source is included before purchasing.

When should you choose a vacuum former with a built-in vacuum pump?

If you want the machine itself to generate a higher vacuum level without requiring a separate vacuum cleaner, choose a vacuum former with a built-in vacuum pump.

For example, FORMART S uses a built-in single vacuum pump and reaches up to -90 kPa, while FORMART 3 uses a single 300W vacuum pump and reaches up to -92 kPa.

This means that whether a machine requires an external vacuum cleaner can be used as the first selection criterion. Once you have decided on a built-in vacuum source, you can then compare pump architecture and Pressure–Flow Curve characteristics.

Should you choose a hybrid pump system or a single vacuum pump?

If two machines have similar maximum vacuum levels, kPa and pump count alone are not enough. The Pressure–Flow Curve should also be compared.

For example, FORMART 2 uses a hybrid dual-pump system consisting of a DC brushless pump and an AC induction vacuum pump, reaching up to -90 kPa. FORMART 3 uses a single 300W vacuum pump and reaches up to -92 kPa.

Although their maximum vacuum levels are relatively close, MYYARD’s Pressure–Flow Curve data shows that FORMART 2 has a noticeable change in slope between different operating regions, while FORMART 3 follows a continuous single slope from an initial airflow of approximately 110 L/min to a maximum vacuum of -92 kPa.

During vacuum forming, the plastic sheet continues to lose heat as air is removed and the sheet contacts the mold. Therefore, when comparing built-in vacuum systems, it is important to consider not only how low the final vacuum can go, but also how airflow changes from the start of evacuation to the high-vacuum region.

How do you choose a vacuum source for a vacuum former? Start with your needs, then compare vacuum level and the Pressure–Flow Curve

In simple terms, if you are just getting started and do not need a higher vacuum level, an external vacuum cleaner may be sufficient. If you want a machine that does not require external equipment and can reach a higher vacuum level, choose a model with a built-in vacuum pump. If both machines use built-in vacuum sources, compare the Pressure–Flow Curve of hybrid and single-pump systems instead of looking only at pump count.

MYYARD moved from the external vacuum cleaner used by FORMART Lite to the built-in single vacuum pump used by FORMART S. It also evolved from the hybrid dual-pump system in FORMART 2 to the single 300W vacuum pump in FORMART 3. These different architectures allow us to compare how each vacuum source builds vacuum throughout the forming process using actual machines and Pressure–Flow Curve data.

When choosing a vacuum former, you can therefore check three things in order: whether the machine requires an external vacuum cleaner, its maximum vacuum level, and how its Pressure–Flow Curve changes from initial evacuation to the high-vacuum region.