Thermoforming is the process of heating a
plastic material in a sheet form to it's part-
icular processing temperature and forming
the hot flexible material against the contours
of a mold by mechanical means or pneumatic
means. When held to the shape of the mold
and allowed to cool, the plastic retains the
shape and detail of the mold. Because soften-
ing by heat and curing by removal of heat
are involved, the technique is applicable only
to thermoplastic materials and not thermosets.

Thermoforming Steps:
Sheets are ready to be molded

Zone control heating elements control
plastic softness during heating

Plastic Sheet is lowered over a precision
designed mold

Pin holes use vacuum pressure to pull
the part firmly against the mold

Sheets are trimed to specifications

Plastics Department Machine Description
What is RIM?
What is RTM?