Thermoforming is a process of transforming plastic, which includes the use of heat, vacuum and specializied tool (model) for production of different plastic products. By using thermoforming technique the plastic first gets heated up till it’s soft, then plastic gets stretched over the tool. Vacuum is also present as it helps shape the desired product and all the details. The product is then almost finished as it cools down, the last phase includes cutting off the excess plastic and adding final touches as per request of the customer. A variety of different plastic materials are suited for thermoforming and each of those plastic materials has unique properties. Plastic material is choosen depending on the function that the finished product will serve.
Thermoforming has a variety of benefits in comparison with other methods of shaping thermoplastic materials. Some of which are:
- Price efficient in comparison with other methods of shaping thermoplastic materials
- Short design and production cycle
- Option of changing/adapting of the finished product even after the model is produced
- A lot of options in designing the final product
- Suitable for small and large series of production
Thermoformed parts are widely used in different industries, but most commonly in pharmaceutical, agricultural, automobile, food industry and industry of electrical parts and other components.