formech_1372:formech_1372

This is an old revision of the document!


Formech 1372

Thermoform machine

Forming area

  • Small: 450 x 450mm (The maximum size for the mould is: 410 x 410mm)
  • Large: 1330 x 620mm (The maximum size for the mould is: 1290 x 580mm)

Plastic sheet sizes

  • Small: 500 x 500 mm
  • Large: 1370 x 660mm

Vacuum Forming Guide


Transparent, glossy surface.

Thickness Size Cost (per sheet)
1mm Large - 1370 x 660mm €13,00
1mm Small - 500 x 500mm €3,90
2mm Small - 500 x 500mm €6,63
3mm Small - 500 x 500mm €9,62


PMMA samples

PMMA is also known as Acryl. It has a glossy surface.

Color Light Thickness Size Cost (per sheet)
White translucent 3mm large - 1370 x 660mm €36,40
White translucent 3mm small - 500 x 500mm €10,40
Green transparent 3mm small - 500 x 500mm €15,60
Light blue translucent 3mm large - 1370 x 660mm €54,60
Light blue translucent 3mm small - 500 x 500mm €15,60
Dark blue transparent 3mm large - 1370 x 660mm €54,60
Dark blue transparent 3mm small - 500 x 500mm €15,60
Yellow transparent 3mm small - 500 x 500mm €15,60
Cream transparent 3mm large - 1370 x 660mm €54,60
Cream transparent 3mm small - 500 x 500mm €15,60


polystyrene samples

Uncut sheets. These can be used for the large and small forming area.

Color Surface finish Thickness Size Cost (per sheet)
white matte / glossy 1mm 2000×1200 €18,20
white matte / glossy 1,5mm 2000×1200 €26,80
white matte / matte 4mm 2000×1000 €45,30
black matte / matte 1mm 2000×1200 €20,50
black matte / glossy 1,5mm 2000×1200 €32,70
red matte / matte 1mm 2000×1200 €20,50
red matte / glossy 1,5mm 2000×1200 €32,70
green matte / matte 1,5mm 2000×1200 €31,60
blue matte / glossy 1,5mm 2000×1200 €32,70

How much does it cost?

startup cost + ( plastic sheet cost * plastic sheet count * material multiplier )
+
( machine time (minutes) * machine time cost )
  • startup cost: €2: only when vacuum form machine is used
  • plastic sheet cost: cost sheet, including VAT and transportation
  • material multiplier: 30%: item cost * 1,3
  • machine time cost: €5 per hour (€0,08333333 per minute)

HIPS - high impact polystyrene

  • Typical uses: display, packaging & light weight internal applications
  • Strength: Moderate
  • Brand names: no specific brands listed.
  • Formability: Easy
  • Hygroscopic (needs drying): No
  • Forming temp range: 150–175°C
  • Conclusion: an entry level plastic, easy to form & not expensive

PETG - Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified

  • Typical uses: Clear covers & reverse printed signage
  • Strength: impact resistant. Stronger than HIPS
  • Brand names: Vivak, Spectar
  • Formability: Easy
  • Hygroscopic (needs drying): No
  • Forming temp range: 120–160°C
  • Conclusion: Easy to form and stronger than HIPS, ±50% more expensive

HDPE - High density polyethylene

  • Typical uses: Outdoor play equipment, pond liners
  • Strength: very impact resistant
  • Brand names: no specific brands listed.
  • Formability: webs easily due to stretching and will seek out any gaps in tooling & lose vacuum
  • Hygroscopic (needs drying): No
  • Forming temp range: 150–180°C
  • Conclusion:Very good impact resistance, tricky to get good results – similar price to PP

PP - polypropylene

  • Typical uses: Outdoor furniture and packaging applications
  • Strength: Rugged and chemical resistant
  • Brand names: no specific brands listed.
  • Formability: webs easily due to stretching and will seek out any gaps in tooling & lose vacuum
  • Hygroscopic (needs drying): No
  • Forming temp range: 150–180°C
  • Conclusion: Very good impact resistance, tricky to get good results – similar price to HDPE

ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

  • hygroscopic

PC - polycarbonate

  • hygroscopic
  • cools down really fast
  • Forming temp range: 175–225°C
  • Formech: Polycarbonate is a challenging material to form at the best of times but it can be formed on all of our machines providing the correct procedures are followed. 4mm PC should really be formed using a double heater machine. If you can use clear PETG life is a lot easier. It’s not quite as impact resistant as PC but it does not need to be pre-dried which is a real benefit.
    If you don’t have the facilities to pre-dry the material, then you are at a disadvantage because the material is unlikely to reach the correct forming temperature. PC should be formed at between 175C – 225C. You will also need to pre-dry the material (with the protective film covering removed) in an oven for a few hours before forming to reach these temperatures, otherwise you will get blistering on the sheet because of the water content. Please note that 4mm PC would probably require drying for at least 12 hours to get rid of all the moisture. Each sheet within the oven would also need to be spaced apart with 25mm between each sheet to get the correct air circulation. You also cannot tell what the water content of each sheet is until your form the sheet and see the blistering. Some sheets may need less time in the oven, but most people assume the worst and pre-dry the material for 12 – 24 hours.

PVC - polyvinyl chloride

  • when burnt, gives off hydrochloric acid

PMMA - Poly(methyl methacrylate)

  • brand name: Acryl
  • hygroscopic
  • brittle

PET - Polyethylene terephthalate

  • Narrow heating band
  • will crystallise if over heated
  • Formech: We would normally recommend that you set all the heater zones to 70% for most materials. Our heating time charts will be based on this percentage approximately.
  • Formech: A hand held infrared thermometer is essential to know the temperature of the sheet, and they are fairly inexpensive.
  • Formech: There is no harm in heating material slowly, providing that it eventually gets up to the correct forming temperature. In fact it’s preferable because heat can creep into the full thickness of the sheet. The main reason that people heat plastic rapidly is for output reasons. They want to make more parts in as little time as possible.
  • Apply 80 grit strips of sand paper to the underside of the clamp frame to provide more grip on the sheet. The strips can be held in place with a good quality double sided tape, contact adhesive or preferably a silicone adhesive to take the heat.
  • Apply strips of 50mm wide self-adhesive aluminium foil tape all around the edges of the sheet and tape the sheet down to the aperture plate or bottom plate of the reducing window to try and stop the sheet from pulling out.
  • If you are using a reducing window, then check with a feeler gauge where there is insufficient clamping and add to the top of the reducing window bottom plate angle iron to stiffen it up.
  • Cut the sheet larger than required, drill holes in the perimeter of the sheet outside of the clamping frame. Then use these holes to secure the sheet with bolts, wires etc. to stop the sheet from pulling out at the tool rises.
  • Check you have even pressure on the clamping on each side.

PMMA 3mm

  • formech_1372/formech_1372.1611654852.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2021/01/26 01:54
  • by formlab