An apparatus for vacuum forming a hollow tubular body of a pipette, the apparatus comprising: a first mold blank (100A, 170A) defining at least one first vacuum channel (105A; 175A) and defining at least one first recess; a second mold blank (100B, 170B) defining at least one second vacuum channel (105B; 175B) and defining at least one second recess; characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a first face plate or insert received by the at least one first recess and including a semi-cylindrical first molding surface defining a plurality of gas-permeable first apertures in fluid communication with the at least one first vacuum channel (105A; 175A); and a second face plate or insert received by the at least one second recess and including a semi-cylindrical second molding surface defining a plurality of gas-permeable second apertures in fluid communication with the at least one second vacuum channel (105B; 175B); wherein each aperture of the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures and of the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures comprises a maximum width of no greater than 150 microns, wherein the first face plate or insert and the second face plate or insert comprise a non-porous material; wherein the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures extend through an entire thickness of the first face plate or insert; wherein the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures extend through an entire thickness of the second face plate or insert, and wherein each aperture of the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures and of the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures comprises a maximum length of at least ten times the maximum width. a first mold blank (100A, 170A) defining at least one first vacuum channel (105A; 175A) and defining at least one first recess; a second mold blank (100B, 170B) defining at least one second vacuum channel (105B; 175B) and defining at least one second recess; characterized in that the apparatus comprises: a first face plate or insert received by the at least one first recess and including a semi-cylindrical first molding surface defining a plurality of gas-permeable first apertures in fluid communication with the at least one first vacuum channel (105A; 175A); and a second face plate or insert received by the at least one second recess and including a semi-cylindrical second molding surface defining a plurality of gas-permeable second apertures in fluid communication with the at least one second vacuum channel (105B; 175B); wherein each aperture of the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures and of the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures comprises a maximum width of no greater than 150 microns, wherein the first face plate or insert and the second face plate or insert comprise a non-porous material; wherein the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures extend through an entire thickness of the first face plate or insert; wherein the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures extend through an entire thickness of the second face plate or insert, and wherein each aperture of the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures and of the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures comprises a maximum length of at least ten times the maximum width. a first face plate or insert received by the at least one first recess and including a semi-cylindrical first molding surface defining a plurality of gas-permeable first apertures in fluid communication with the at least one first vacuum channel (105A; 175A); and a second face plate or insert received by the at least one second recess and including a semi-cylindrical second molding surface defining a plurality of gas-permeable second apertures in fluid communication with the at least one second vacuum channel (105B; 175B); wherein each aperture of the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures and of the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures comprises a maximum width of no greater than 150 microns, wherein the first face plate or insert and the second face plate or insert comprise a non-porous material; wherein the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures extend through an entire thickness of the first face plate or insert; wherein the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures extend through an entire thickness of the second face plate or insert, and wherein each aperture of the plurality of gas-permeable first apertures and of the plurality of gas-permeable second apertures comprises a maximum length of at least ten times the maximum width.