Plasform is a way of making things. It offers teachers, students, and hobbyists a range of new materials and simple processes to pursue their interest in technology education, craft or model building. It also provides otherwise hard-to-source materials, online design assistance and project support. Plasform is really a series of hands-on activities ranging from simple plastic casting of plasticine figurines to quite complex models which may involve exotic composite materials. After deciding what activities are best suited to their situation, people can look at the on-line catalogue and select individual items, or kits to enable them to design and build their own project. It may be that they need assistance in deciding on what materials to buy, so they can e-mail questions or outline their requirements for us to assist.


The Plasform website has a section called 'Resources'. These include design briefs, worksheets on safety, construction guides, information sheets on the history, physical and chemical aspects of the materials they are using, and other reference material. People will then download what they need, and with the materials sent to them, they will be able to get started on their projects.


The last thing we want to do is introduce materials to people which may pose a health and safety risk. The sheet plastics are completely safe. The temperatures required for forming it are low and the process does not pose a risk if the normal safety procedures stipulated are followed. The liquid plastic is a polyester-based resin catalysed with a paste instead of the usual toxic liquid. Vapour from the curing process is smelly but not harmful.


The willingness to have a go is about the only special skill required.


An oven with a clear door and a household vacuum cleaner are required for the vacuum forming The only other tools required are basic knives, scissors, files and brushes.


Plastic lends itself to almost any application. Essentially it is the material of the moment and by converting raw plastic, wonderful design possibilities open up any creative mind. In addition to plastics, Plasform uses another major manufacturing and construction material, and that is light-weight concrete.


The program is essentially the work of Merv Edmunds and the many students in his technology classes over the past twenty years. His programs have appeared in many national education journals, major exhibitions and conferences in Victoria and interstate, and in 1992, won the prestigious The Age/Macquarie Library Curriculum Excellence Award. In 1993 Merv was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Education Award for his work with plastics technology and student enterprise. He now works full time on the Plasform program, conducting in-service programs for teachers, classes for craft enthusiasts, presenting the program at major exhibitions here and overseas, as well as assisting students with their design, investigation and construction tasks.