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Process:
Step 1: Heating a plastic sheet to the temperature where it softens.
Step 2: Stretching the softened polymer against a cold mold surface.
step 3: Cooling the finished part and trimming any excess plastic.
Figure : Stage thermo forming machine
Steps of thermoforming
1. Heating: Heating is accomplished by radiant electric
heater which is located at a distance of 125mm (5 in.)
either on one or both sides of the sheet.
2. Forming: After heating, the polymer sheet is converted or
formed into various shapes by either air pressure, vacuum
pressure or by mechanical pressure.
So according to the forming techniques
thermoforming are 3 types
Vacuum forming
Pressure forming
Mechanical forming
Vacuum forming
It is the earliest method of thermoforming.
In vacuum forming, vacuum is created below the preheated
plastic sheet to draw sheet into the cold mold cavity.
Basic steps of vacuum forming
1. A flat plastic sheet is heated by radiant heater, which is
placed on one or both sides of the plastic.
2. The softened sheet is placed over a concave cavity.
3. Vacuum draws the sheet to the sheet to the cold cavity .
4. The product is cooled and any extra plastic parts are
trimmed.
Figure: Vaccum forming
Advantage:
I. Operated at a comparatively low vacuum pressure.
II. Relatively cheap.
Disadvantage:
I. Region of least thickness occurs near the clamp.
II. Bad finishing or non uniform plastic formation.
III. Uneven wall thickness at the corner of the product.
Thin corner