Automotive components including panels, doors, seating parts, dashboards, bumpers, air ducts, truck bed liners, floor mats and headlight covers are all ideal applications for thermoformed plastics.
What is an example of thermoforming plastic?
A common thermoformed plastic, ABS is comprised of acrylonitrile, styrene and butadiene. ABS is known for its tough resilience to the elements, including heat; it can handle temperatures anywhere from -4 to 176 °F. This allows the plastic to be molded at high temperatures.
What is the thermoforming process?
In its simplest form the thermoforming process involves heating a sheet (which can be mono material, a coextrusion or a laminate) of even thickness and drawing it over, or into a mould to form a rigid or semi-rigid shape. The excess material is trimmed off usually, leaving a rim around the finished article.
Is vacuum forming cheaper than injection molding?
While the vacuum forming process is a little more elaborate, the tooling is cheaper, the time to production is faster and the aesthetics achieved are relatively the same. However, the per-piece production costs on vacuum formed parts are higher than injection molded parts.
How do you use a thermoform machine?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foyc4KzmG9g
What is thermoforming temperature?
In vacuum forming and thermoforming processes, an extruded plastic sheet is heated to make it pliable, before being moulded into shape by a vacuum or high pressure. Forming temperatures typically range from 120°C to 370°C, and the optimum temperature depends on the type of plastic.
What does a thermoforming machine do?
Thermoforming is a plastic molding technique that results in a variety of highly usable products. During this manufacturing process, thin plastic sheets are heated in order to make them easy to manipulate. Once a sheet reaches a pliable temperature, it is formed over a male or female mold.
What products are thermoformed?
- Dashboard Assemblies.
- Interior Door Panels.
- Interior Paneling.
- Seating Parts.
- Engine Bay Paneling.
- Exterior Body Panels.
- Bumpers.
- Air Ducts.