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What Do We Mean By “Male” and “Female” Tools?
In the plastics trade, we often talk about manufacturing “male” and “female” tools. What exactly does this mean? No, we’re not talking about creating specific tools for men and different tools for women. Rather, when we look at connectors and fasteners, we see that there are two components that fit together. Needing a way to distinguish…
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Thermoforming Process (step-by-step)
Vacuum Forming Plastic Process (step-by-step) A material blank which has a length and width greater than the finished part is loaded into a clamp frame to be carried through the process. The blank in the clamp frame moves into an oven where it is heated to the forming temperature. At the forming temperature, the material…
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Plastic Process Comparison
The chart below compares thermoforming in the first two columns of vacuum forming/pressure forming with reaction injection molding, injection molding and structural foam molding. The highest value is 10 and lowest is 1. Thermoforming also competes with rotomolding, blow molding, fiberglass, and sheetmetal fabrication. Vacuum Forming Pressure Forming RIM Injection Molding Structural Foam Part Cost…
