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Thermoforming Services

Table of Contents

Thermoforming and Vacuum Forming

Thermoforming and vacuum forming work by drawing hot thermoplastic sheets around a mold. Next, any remaining air is sucked out to ensure consistent definition. The product is then taken off the mold and excess plastic is trimmed and recycled. Thermoforming is ideal for custom trays, packaging, panels and housings.

This fast and inexpensive technology requires less lead time and has lower tooling costs than injection molding or machining while also offering a lower part cost than 3D printing. Although thermoforming has some design limitations, it offers a wide variety of materials and provides excellent value for compatible projects such as 3D Printing for Prototyping.

Max Bed Size: 132" x 58"

Versatile Thermoplastics

Real thermoplastics are strong, durable and inexpensive compared to 3D printed materials. RapidMade offers an extensive range of thermoforming plastics, including PETG, HIPS, ABS, PC, Acrylic and many more, in thicknesses ranging from 0.020″ to 0.250″ (0.5 mm to .6.5 mm). Click here to see all of our thermoforming materials.

With so many material options, thermoformed products are able to meet a host of mechanical and aesthetic demands, from conductivity and heat resistance to FDA food-grade certifications. Thermoformed parts can be rigid, flexible, translucent or opaque. This versatility lends itself to applications in a variety of industries, including food, medicine, electronics and manufacturing.

Thermoformed Parts

Thermoforming with 3D Printed Tooling: Better Together

Thermoforming molds are traditionally milled from urethane or aluminum. This can be expensive, especially for small- to medium-sized parts, and takes 1–3 weeks to produce. By using 3D printed molds made with the HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), RapidMade can create durable molds for thermoforming in under 48 hours for as little as 50% of the cost of machining.

The Nylon PA-12 used by MJF printing is excellent for thermoforming: It offers high temperature resistance, doesn’t bond with other materials and doesn’t require additional finishing for opaque parts. Moreover, 3D printed molds can easily produce undercuts and other complex shapes that would be difficult or impossible to machine.

These faster production times make it easier than ever to prototype thermoformed parts. Adjustments to 3D printed molds are cheap and quick, allowing you to get more iterations during your product development cycles. The time and cost savings of 3D printed molds make thermoforming an economical option in an even wider range of situations throughout your product life cycle. Click here to find out more!

Thermoforming with 3D Printed Tooling: Better Together

Thermoforming Applications

custom thermoformed trays

Efficient Custom Trays

Custom trays can benefit a range of professional environments, from automated assembly lines to hospital operating rooms. By tailoring solutions to your specific needs, RapidMade can create tools that fit seamlessly into your existing production. Learn more here.

paint crop

Custom Finished Products

RapidMade has a full service paint shop which can provide high quality automotive finishes like Sherwin Williams Polane and Genesis paints which are 10 year UV rated and scratch resistant. We can also apply ESD, RFI and other specialty coatings.

thermoformed

Durable Panels & Housings

Themoforming is often the best choice for large panels and housings owing to its large bed sizes and inexpensive tooling. These durable and versatile products are well-suited to a wide range of industrial and consumer applications.

Custom Replacement Parts - Thermoforming

Affordable Replacement Parts

Replacement parts can be expensive, and if they have been discontinued by the OEM, they may be impossible to find. With our reverse engineering and thermoforming services, we can quickly manufacture durable replacement parts to your specifications.

Thermoforming Design Considerations

We can thermoform parts as large as 4’ x 8’ and offer incremental window sizes as small as 5” x 5” to save material costs on smaller parts.

When designing parts to be thermoformed, there are a few important considerations to ensure consistency. Draw depth, or the ratio of the part’s depth to its width, cannot exceed 4:3. We recommend a maximum draw depth of 1:1 if possible. Thermoformed parts also require 2-5 degrees of draft for internal cavities and 4-8 degrees of draft for raised features in order to be removed from their molds.

To learn more about designing parts for thermoforming, check out our Thermoforming Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Guide.

Thermoforming Design
 

Thermoforming Tolerance Guidelines

ACTIVITY TOLERANCE GUIDELINE
FORMED MEASUREMENTS
< 6″
6″ – 12″
12″ – 18″
> 18″ 

+/-0.015″
+/-0.025″
+/-0.030″
+/-0.030″ +/-0.002″ per inch

Tolerance and size increase proportionally
DRILLED HOLE DIAMETERS +/-0.005” Holes Equal or Lesser than 1”
DRILLED HOLE DIAMETERS +/-0.010” Holes from 1” to 5”
SLOTS +/-0.010” Slot Equal to or Lesser than 1” Any Direction
SLOTS +/-0.020” Slots Greater than 1”
5 AXIS TRIM +/-0.015” Trim Features under 5”
5 AXIS TRIM +/-0.020” Trim Features Greater than 5”
 
 

Thermoforming Materials

Thermoforming is compatible with a variety of materials that can achieve a wide range of thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. Below, we’ve put together a little guide to the materials we commonly use for thermoforming and some of their ideal applications. Though we provide some examples here, these materials can be used for many different products. If you’d like more information about any of the materials listed below, reach out to us at info@rapidmade.com or at 503-943-2781.

Standard - No Minimum Order

These materials are stocked at RapidMade or easily obtained at a local distributor. Color and finish are limited. Materials are not always readily available in every thickness but typically they can be purchased by as little as a single 4’x8′ sheet. Lead time is typically 1-2 weeks. Custom orders of these materials are available to offer more finish or additive options (like UV or FR rating) and to reduce cost. These runs can take 5-8 weeks and require 2500 – 6000 lb material minimums.

HIPS (Polystyrene)

Our most commonly-used material. Inexpensive and functional. Can be brittle at low temperatures and off-gas at higher temperatures. Used for packaging trays, covers and light-duty structural pieces. Food-safe versions available.

HIPS Data Sheet

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate) (Polyester)

Moderately inexpensive material with good water and oxygen barriers. Able to stand up to substantially lower temperatures than HIPS. Often used for food-safe applications, freezer packaging and water bottles.

PETG Data Sheet

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Medium-cost impact-resistant engineering plastic which can made be flame-retardant or UV-resistant by blending with other materials. Used for high-end packaging and moderate-load structural components.

ABS Data Sheet

Kydex T (ABS/PVC) or Kydex 100 (Acrylic/PVC)

Expensive flame-retardant engineering plastic with high impact resistance. Used for moderate-load structures, covers and enclosures that require fire resistance. Kydex 100 is our go-to material for radomes.

Kydex Data Sheets

PC (Polycarbonate)

Moderately expensive engineering plastic with high stiffness, impact strength and temperature resistance, plus options for UV and scratch resistance. Used for glass replacements on phones, TVs, lights or glasses, and high-temp applications. Harder to form, especially for fine details.

PC Data Sheet

PE, HDPE or LDPE (Polyethylene)

Moderately hard, inexpensive plastic with high chemical resistance. Does not off-gas at high temperatures. Chemical and thermal durability makes it well-suited for chemical-resistant containers. Higher shrink rate than other materials, which lowers tool life and increases variability between parts.

PE Data Sheet

PP (Polypropylene)

Moderately-priced alternative to PE with improved thermal and mechanical properties. Higher level of chemical resistance than most plastics. Used as an engineering plastic and for applications involving food contact.

PP Data Sheet

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Hard engineering plastic with strong mechanical properties and high chemical and electrical resistance. Can be rigid or flexible. Used for certain chemical-resistant containers.

PVC Data Sheet

Acrylic

An inexpensive, rigid and brittle plastic with high UV resistance. More difficult to form than other plastics. Not intended for tight bends or details. UV resistance makes it well-suited to outdoor applications.

Acrylic Data Sheet

2500 lb MOQ Specialty Materials

These materials are made to order with a 6 week lead time and require a minimum order of 2500 lbs. These are premium automotive plastics that posess exceptional finish and durability.

TPO

TPO (Thermoplastic Poly Olefin) is a compounded alloy of polypropylene, elastomers and mineral fillers offering a unique balance of stiffness and thermal expansion. TPO has superior weather-ability so it does not require a cap and it ranks extremely high on impact and chemical resistance.

TPO Data Sheet

PC/ABS 

Alloying Polycarbonate blended with ABS results in the best of both worlds. You get the ease of processing ABS and the durability of polycarbonate. This combination also improves heat deflection temperature, stiffness, and and low-temperature impact resistance. Needs paint or coating for automotive applications.

PC/ABS Data Sheet

EXULTRA® TPE/TPO

Cap of partially cross-linked TPE coextruded over TPO Soft-touch TPE cap – 90 Shore A

This material is outdoor weatherable, has excellent chemical resistance, very low gloss and offers options of  HMS, FR, & Glass-filled TPO.

TPE/TPO Data Sheet

ONESTEP® Vinyl/ABS

OneStep® Vinyl/ABS products offer a textured, leather-like appearance and a refined feel. While maintaining dependable performance for forming applications, it retains the durability and rigidity to withstand wear and tear. A vinyl foam composite is laminated over ABS to create a piece that mimics hand-wrapped parts and is near impervious to scratches and marring. 

Vinyl/ABS Product Information

SOFTFLEX® ASA/ABS

SoftFlex® ASA/ABS is a coextruded styrenic system that offers the weatherability & chemical resistance of ASA combined with the versatility of ABS. The high elastomer content of the ASA cap provides an ultra low-gloss look and a soft-touch feel that makes it ideal for multiple interior and exterior applications.

ASA/ABS Data Sheet

Start Thermoforming Today

Whether you are developing a new project or are ready to start production, RapidMade’s 3D Printing Services help you get it done better, faster and at less cost. Our contract engineering services and custom manufacturing solutions are available for every stage of your product life cycle.

Check out our 5-Minute Buyer’s Guide to learn more about our services or get started now with a free quote in 24 hours or less!