Z
Corporation
Z810
System
User
Manual
www.zcorp-users.com
74
9.8 THERMOFORMING
This process consists of heating a thermoplastic sheet to a formable plastic state and then
applying air pressure and/or mechanical assists to shape it to the contours of a mold. In this
process, the air pressure may range from almost zero to several hundred psi. ‘Vacuum forming’ is
the term given when a pressure differential of up to approximately 14 psi (atmospheric pressure)
is used. The pressure is obtained by evacuating the space between the sheet and the mold in
order to utilize this atmospheric pressure. Vacuum forming will give satisfactory reproduction of
the mold configuration in the majority of forming applications. Manufacturers can use all types of
thermoplastic materials – PVC, polystyrenes, polyesters, acrylics etc. in this process.
Making light gauge (plastic less than 0.060”) thermoforming molds for prototype parts is an ideal
use for Z Corporation 3D Printers and plaster powder.
For more information regarding the process and the industry, check out SPI’s website:
www.plasticsindustry.org/index.htm
where you can search SPI's Membership Directory & Buyer's
Guide for thermoformers.
In the example below, the industrial designer wanted to get a feel of his design in the actual
material. He was able to generate a mold and produce a sample in a period of days.
MOLD
PROTOTYPE
The packaging company that produced the prototypes below uses the parts to generate samples
for their sales department, who then use them to collect customer feedback.
