The cells will see their surface area in sq inches x about 14..... so a 6x3 cell sees 18x14=250 odd pounds of pressure for each cell....
You know they are flimsy as all get out, but they will tolerate it very well if supported well.
If you tab them yourself.... make sure you keep the soldering as flat as flat. Any lumps left will put uneven pressure on the cell and break it,...... same with the backs... try for even.... even..... even. Then full vacuum of space will not hurt them.
You will need to use porous material (linen sheets etc)on the back of your tedlar or whatever you are using as the backing sheet (over the back EVA) . This needs to be there to allow the vacuum to evenly cover the tedlar.... otherwise it will only be around the suction area.
Good vacuum means no bubbles.
DONT allow the suction hose to rest on the rear of the cells. make sure you have some porous material out the end of the matrix, and place the hose into that...... otherwise the hose will press unevenly on the back of that cell and break it.
Plastic bags seal well around rubber hoses with plastic wire ties.
I tried shade cloth as an open weave material on the back of the tedlar to help the vacuum spread evenly easily, but it seemed to shrink with the heat, and actually moved the cells....fine flywire will work and there are many other things to try.... but if you get a perfect seal, bed sheets will work... albeit a bit slower for the vacuum to spread. over the entire area.
Here is a test panel. It is normal glass (window), ....eva, ....cells, .....eva, .........tyvek (building wrap, teflon/aluminium Dupont stuff..... well..... I had it hanging around...)
That one was done in a normal black garbage bag (240 liter)
It is no big deal that the window glass is breakable, as the EVA makes it into laminated glass... you can crack it but not break it.... interesting side benefit.
I did this on purpose on another panel, and it does not break or fall apart, it just keeps on going perfectly well, the EVA holds it together just like a laminated windscreen ...... unlike broken tempered glass... it becomes useless..... and you can use windscreen repair resin to fill the crack line to stop any hint of moisture discolouring the crack line.... just like a windscreen.
Close up of a panel..... yes the crooked one is because I'm slob....
EVA is only about 7-10 dollars per meter.... why anyone would do it any other way than the solar cell manufacturers do, is beyond me. That slygard stuff is expensive compared to EVA.... and you still have to address the bubble problem.... any other way is tempory
.............oztules