ROUND 1: Vacuum Forming VS Pressure Forming 🔔🔔🔔 FIGHT! We tried to write a really succinct explanation of this for social media but it doesn't do it justice. So instead we asked our engineer Will to explain it for us in detail: Both vacuum forming and pressure forming work in the same basic way: by creating a pressure differential across a sheet of plastic to force the plastic into a mould. Vacuum formers create a vacuum under the plastic sheet to force the plastic into the mould, whereas pressure formers use a more advanced and versatile method of creating positive pressure above the plastic sheet to force it into the mould. Vacuum formers rely on the atmosphere to force the plastic sheet down, limiting their power - the atmosphere can apply a maximum of 1kg/cm² (14.7psi) of force onto the plastic. However, pressure formers can use pressures that are significantly higher than atmospheric pressure to force the plastic down, in the case of the Multiplier, 4.1kg/cm² (60 psi). This extra force, combined with the Multiplier’s ability to heat and soften plastic sheets far beyond any vacuum former, enables the creation of more complex and detailed shapes, deeper draws, and sharper undercuts. So, there you go. Hit up the 'Learn' section on our site to find out more. #engineering #thermoforming #manufacturing
The most astonishing part of the story is that you get the same amazing amount of details also with soft plastics like EVA or TPU. But maybe that is in one of the parts still to come? 😉
EVA and TPU works. EVA with Mayku profile set as standard and TPU profile can be saved directly to the machine for future use, making it simple to use materials from any supplier.
Vacuum under the plastic does not force plastic into the mold. Atmospheric pressure does that. What power is being limited in the case of vacuum formers? How is that calculated?
You're right, both vacuum formers and pressure formers work with pressure differentials, vacuum formers rely on the atmosphere to push down on the plastic, whereas pressure formers can use as much positive pressure as they like. Not having to rely on atmospheric pressure to push down on the plastic makes the Multiplier far more flexible than an equivalent vacuum former.