What equipment should you choose for vacuum forming?
The choice depends on your application:
- • Prototyping and creative work: Desktop machines with manual operation.
- • Small- to medium-scale production: Semi-automatic machines with pneumatic drive.
Working Area:
Determine the maximum size of your products. For table size calculations:
- • If the mold has a block shape, add the height of the mold to the edges.
- • If the mold resembles soap or a computer mouse, add half of the mold’s maximum height.
- • For hemispheres, add 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) from the edge, regardless of the mold size.
Heating System:
- • Tubular stainless-steel heaters: A budget-friendly option with minimal quality loss.
- • Lamp heating: Provides the most uniform heat but is less effective for transparent plastics.
- • Ceramic Infrared heaters: Ensure even heat distribution.
- • Quartz infrared heaters: Offer the same even heating as ceramic infrared, but reach the target temperature faster. Their lifespan is shorter than ceramic infrared heaters.
- • Zonal heating models: Allow precise adjustment of heating intensity in different sheet areas.
Drive System:
- • Manual: Suitable for small-scale production.
- • Pneumatic or electric: Ideal for automation and consistent repeatability.
Cooling System:
- • Speeds up the forming process.
Temperature Control:
- • Machines with pyrometers provide precise control over the plastic's temperature, which is essential for complex shapes.
