Mould Making for Vacuum Thermoforming Machine using Rapid Prototyping Method

Abstract

Thermoforming consists of warming a plastic sheet and forming it into a cavity or over a tool using vacuum, air pressure and mechanical means. The process begins by heating a thermoplastic sheet slightly above the glass transition temperature, for amorphous polymers, or slightly below the melting point, for semi-crystalline materials. As the final thickness distribution of the part is drastically controlled by the initial temperature distribution inside the sheet, it is very important to optimise the heating stage. In most of the thermoforming machine, this step is performed using an infrared oven constituted of long waves infrared emitters. The need for workshop tools such as thermoform machine machines is particularly important in the Plastic Workshop Practice course offered to students of Mechanical Engineering (Plastic) Diploma in Polytechnic Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS). Existing thermoform machine require high-performance operators and require high maintenance for a process. Long maintenance times and inefficient handling results in machine malfunctions and disrupt the teaching and learning process. This innovation is to make teaching and learning process better through complete and proper tools.