Plastic Vacuum Forming

Plastic Vacuum forming is infact thermoforming, whereby during the process of development, a sheet of plastic is heated and stretched onto or into a template mold. It is then held against the mold by applying vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet.

The advantages of Vacuum Forming are relatively low cost tooling which makes it ideal for low volume products & prototypes

Normally, draft angles must be present in the design on the mold (a recommended minimum of 3°), otherwise release of the formed plastic and the mold is very difficult.

Vacuum forming is usually – but not always – restricted to forming plastic parts that are rather shallow in depth. A thin sheet is formed into rigid cavities for unit doses of pharmaceuticals and for loose objects that are carded or presented as point-of-purchase items. Thick sheet is formed into permanent objects such as turnpike signs and protective covers.

Relatively deep parts can be formed if the form-able sheet is mechanically or pneumatically stretched prior to bringing it in contact with the mold surface and before vacuum is applied.

Suitable materials for use in vacuum forming are conventionally thermoplastics, the most common and easiest being High Impact Polystyrene Sheeting (HIPS). This is molded around a wood, structural foam or cast/machined aluminum mold and can form to almost any shape. Vacuum forming is also appropriate for transparent materials such as acrylic which are widely used in applications for

• Display industry
• Engineering Products
• Covers & Electrical housings
• Many more