Thermoforming is a plastic production process that combines heat and vacuum to carefully form custom plastic parts. Though the process can seem simple on the surface, it still requires much expertise and some significant know-how to consistently create a result that satisfies both you and your client needs. At Industrial Custom Products, we offer professional thermo and vacuum forming services as well as comprehensive consultations to ensure that you get the results you are looking for every time.
One of the key areas in any production process is the material selection. Not all plastics are well-suited for thermoforming, and not all thermoforming plastics are right for every single application. Here’s what you need to know about material selection for optimal part production.
What Are the Benefits of Vacuum Forming in Manufacturing?
By using vacuum forming, there are numerous advantages that you can experience, including:
- Rapid Prototyping – Vacuum forming allows fast product creation and small production runs
- Cost-Effectiveness – With much lower cost tooling, vacuum forming is a less expensive option for small to medium volume programs
- Flexibility – Using a variety of materials, vacuum forming can create both simple and more complex parts
- Quality – Vacuum forming allows consistent, high-quality products to be created
- Efficiency – Shorter cycle times mean that multiple parts can be formed simultaneously, which results in greater production and efficiency
Factors Involved with the Vacuum Forming Process
One of the first steps in identifying the correct material is to look at the needs of the finished part. Environmental conditions come into play when a part is assembled into a completed project. These can include:
- UV exposure
- Impact resistance
- Chemical resistance
- Heat resistance
- Material certification requirements (ex: for medical applications)
- Desired appearance – color, finish, opacity
The team at ICP is here to assist in making the correct material recommendations for the specific application to ensure the right part made out of the right material arrives at your facility on time.
What Materials are Used in Vacuum Forming?
Multiple vacuum forming materials are used, including:
- Acrylic
- High resistance to UV light and weathering
- Transparent and excellent light transmission
- ABS – Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
- Strong, stiff and high dimensional stability
- Easy to bond, print and paint
- PC – Polycarbonate
- Transparent
- Strong, stiff and tough
- PE – Polyethylene
- Many varieties at different densities are available
- Flexible
- HDPE – High-density polyethylene
- Cost-effective and recyclable
- High chemical resistance
- PP – Polypropylene
- Low density and lightweight
- Translucent with decent light transmission
- PETG – Polyethylene terephthalate glycol
- Deep draw thermoforming
- Good impact resistance
- TPO – Thermoplastic polyolefin
- Excellent weatherability
- High impact restance
Related Content: Comparing Thermoplastics – ABS vs HDPE vs TPO
When done properly, vacuum forming is a streamlined way to form large and small products alike. If you are trying to find the best type of vacuum-forming material for your finished product and you are not sure where to start, the professionals with Industrial Custom Products are eager to lend their expertise. We can help in any way, from plastic production consultations to material testing, we are on deck and at your service.
Contact Industrial Custom Products Today!
Contact us and speak with an engineer about your project at (612) 781-2255, or request a quote online. You will receive a prompt response.
Industrial Custom Products is a one-stop-shop for custom manufacturing and plastic fabrication, including: prototyping and product development, die cutting and dieless knife cutting, thermoforming and vacuum forming, large part thermoforming, CNC plastic routing, fabrication and assembly and drape forming.
