Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a sheet of thermoformable stock material into a desired shape on a relatively-small and relatively-inexpensive “table top” version of a thermoforming and/or vacuum forming machine. Unlike conventional machines that utilize external electric or gas powered air compressors and/or separate electric vacuum pumps, the apparatus integrates a compressed fluid/suction generating device within the machine itself so that the need to connect the machine to an external source of compressed fluid or vacuum is eliminated.