Vacuum forming

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Vacuum forming, commonly known as vacuforming, is a simplified version of
thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched
onto or into a single-surface mold, and held against the mold by applying vacuum
between the mold surface and the sheet.
The vacuum forming process can be used to make product packaging, speaker casings
and even car dashboards.
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.[1]
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 aerospace such as PCW (passenger cabin
windows) canopies for military fixed wing aircraft and "bubbles" for rotary wing aircraft.

Contents
[hide]

1 Common problems encountered with vacuum forming

2 See also
3 References

4 External links

[edit] Common problems encountered with vacuum

forming

Moisture absorption: absorbed moisture can expand forming bubbles within the
plastic's inner layers. This may be solved by drying the plastic for an extended
period at high but sub-melting temperature.
Webs may form around the mold, which is due to the overheating of the plastic
and so must be carefully monitored. Webbing can also occur when a mold is too
large or parts of the mold are too close together.

[edit] See also

Blow hole
Thermoforming

[edit] References
1. ^ J.L. Throne, Understanding Thermoforming, Hanser Gardner Publications, Inc.,
Cincinnati, OH, 1999

D.E. Walsh, Do It Yourself Vacuum Forming for the Hobbyist, Workshop

Publishing, Lake Orion MI

[edit] External links

A Vacuum Forming Guide

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This page was last modified on 20 February 2008, at 00:10.

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