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The rapid growth of the thermoforming industry has attracted the interest of many plastic
product manufacturers who would normally consider the thermoforming process as competition to
their currently employed process, such as injection molders and blow molders. This primer, now in
an expanded second edition, originally derives from numerous in-plant short courses and the University
of Winconsin-Milwaukee thermoforming course. It introduces the reader to the thermoforming
process, its tools and machinery, and the materials most commonly used.
From the Foreword: “...The intent of the work has not changed. It remains a primer. I've
rearranged the chapters to focus on the mechanics of the process first, then to consider the nature of the
polymers. I've also added a short chapter on comparing thermoforming technically and economically
with other technologies such as blow molding, rotational molding, and injection molding. One
caveat though. In the first edition, there were no equations. In this edition, there are equations, but
only simple ones, for illustration only.”
Target Audience: Operators, plant supervisers, sales personnel, technicians, and other employees
or students interested in a basic but broad overview of thermoforming.
Table of Contents:
Introduction to Thermoforming
General Forming Concepts
Part Design
Machinery for the Thick-Gauge Forming Process
Machinery for the Light-Gauge Forming Process
Machines for Other Applications
Molds and Mold Design
Methods of Heating Sheet
Sheet Stretching and Cooling
Trimming
Polymers and Plastics
Issues of Quality Control
Comparison with Other Technologies
Pragmatic Aspects of Thermoforming
Glossary
Index
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