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