20 Feb Plastic Process Comparison
Posted at 09:32h
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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 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
| Tool Cost | 8 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Process Pressure | 9 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Part Mfg Cycle | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Machine Cost | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Material Types | 7 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 9 |
| Maximum Size | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Residual Stress | 8 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 5 |
| Process Pressure | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 |