What is a Vacuum Forming?
Vacuum forming is a plastic forming process in which a heated and flexible plastic sheet is placed on a mold and then using air suction, the sheet is shaped into a mold. This process is considered a cost-effective and flexible production method and is used to produce a wide range of plastic products.
In the process of vacuum forming, first the desired mold is designed and produced and placed on the vacuum forming machine. Then the soft and flexible transparent plastic sheet (thermoplastic) is placed on the mold and using a vacuum vacuum pump by creating negative pressure through suction, the air between the sheet and the mold is discharged and the plastic sheet is well formed on the vacuum forming mold. Finally, the cooling process is done in order to maintain the state of the plastic sheet, and the sheet is directed to the cutting section.
Vacuum Forming Mold
One of the most important processes of vacuum forming is the production of a mold that must be made in the shape of the desired design. In fact, there is no possibility of thermal forming or vacuum forming without a mold, and these molds must be made with suitable materials. The more standard the design of the vacuum forming mold is, the more quality products will be produced. Otherwise, the mold may lose its shape during operation and the product may be produced against the manufacturer's wishes. Now, in order to reach the best vacuum forming format, you should pay attention to a series of things that we will review here: Material of vacuum forming mold: materials such as aluminum, MDF, wood, etc. should be used to make the mold. Aluminum is one of the best materials in this field due to its greater stability. Vacuum molds made of aluminum have high resistance and easily dissipate heat. At the same time, materials such as wood lose their strength and resistance in high and mass productions. Vacuum Forming Mold Design: Several things should be considered in mold design, one of which is considering the necessary angles and slopes. This means that the mold must have a smooth and uniform surface so that all the materials can be spread on the surface of the mold. A series of air vents should also be provided for the mold to allow air to escape between the plastic sheet and the mold. These air discharge holes should be created on the surface of the mold to create a channel for air discharge by the vacuum pump.