Thermoforming is an industrial process that involves heating a plastic sheet until it becomes malleable, then forming it over a mold using suction (vacuum). Once the material has taken the shape of the mold, it is cooled to retain that shape.
This method offers great design flexibility, allowing the creation of complex and unique shapes at an affordable cost.
Thermoforming allows for the production of lightweight, durable, and high-quality parts, suitable for many applications.
Thermoformed products are known for their durability and resistance, making them an ideal solution for many industries.
Material Selection: Selection of the thermoplastic based on the required properties for the part (e.g., ABS, ABS-PMMA, ACRYLIC, etc.).
Cutting: The sheet is cut to the appropriate size for the mold used in the process.
The plastic sheet is heated in a heating zone until it reaches its softening temperature, usually in an oven or with infrared heaters. It is important to heat it evenly to avoid uneven deformation.
Once the plastic is sufficiently malleable, it is brought into contact with a mold. For this, we use the technique of:
Vacuum Thermoforming: The plastic is sucked against the mold by a vacuum pump.
There are also other techniques such as pressure thermoforming and mechanical thermoforming.
The molded plastic must be cooled before demolding. The cooling is accelerated by integrated cooling systems using air blowing. Once cooled, the part retains the shape of the mold.
The part is removed from the mold after cooling. In the case of vacuum thermoforming, the suction is stopped and the part is carefully demolded. Release agents can be used to facilitate this step.
Thermoformed parts may require finishing operations to remove excess material (flashes or rough edges), usually by cutting, milling, or drilling. This allows obtaining the desired final shape.
Finally, the part is inspected to ensure it meets the technical specifications and the expected quality, both in terms of shape and mechanical and aesthetic properties.
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