What is Vacuum Forming?
Vacuum forming is a manufacturing process that shapes plastic materials. During this process, heat is added to a plastic sheet, and then shaped around a mold through suction.
Many manufacturing applications utilize vacuum forming, from building small plastic parts to large industrial parts.
How Does Vacuum Forming Work?
These are the following steps of vacuum forming:
- Clamp: A plastic sheet is placed into an open frame and clamped into place
- Apply Heat: The sheet of plastic is then softened using heat until it reaches the proper forming temperature, making it pliable.
- Vacuum: The structure that contains the heated plastic is placed over a mold. Then, it’s sucked into place by a vacuum located on the other side of the mold. (Convex molds require tiny holes to be drilled into specific crevices so that the thermoplastic sheet can be pulled into the proper form.)
- Cool Down: When the plastic has effectively formed into or around the mold, it will need to cool. Cool mist and/or fans are sometimes used to expedite this process for larger pieces that need cooling.
- Remove and Release: Once the plastic has completely cooled, it can be safely removed from its mold and released from the structure it’s held in.
- Trim: The finished part will be carved out of the surplus material— the edges will likely need to be trimmed, smoothed, and/or sanded down.
Various Applications of Vacuum Forming
In today’s world ruled by modernity, it would be virtually impossible to go through a single day without coming face-to-face with at least one part that’s been processed through vacuum forming. This manufacturing method is used in the production of many various parts in a vast number of industries, including:
Industrial
This is a useful process for manufacturing parts mainly used outside or for parts that may get close to a heat source. The reason for this is that industrial manufacturers typically use various flame-retardant and UV-resistant materials.
Automotive and Transportation
Manufacturers use vacuum forming in the creation of many different parts and pieces in buses, boats, cars, and airplanes. In automobiles, everything from the floormats to the bumpers is made with vacuum forming. Additionally, vacuum forming gives car companies many different options for automobiles’ various details and colors in the production process. If you are looking for this service near you, contact us at The Pro Design Group today!