3. Vacuum forming ?
Thermoplastic, semimanufactured product
in plate form
p
3-D product
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
4. Vacuum forming - process
3 stages in the process
Heating up Forming Cooling
(plate thickness, sort of material)
thickness
(form place dependent)
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
5. Forming
Mould
Heated plate
Clamp system
p y
Temp. control
channels
Vacuum channel
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
8. Commonly used techniques
• Positive forming
– Usual positive forming
– Forming using pre-blowing
– Forming a vacuum
• Negative forming
– Usual negative forming
– Forming with stamp
– Forming using pre-blowing, stamp and vacuum
• Hi h pressure f
High forming (HPF)
i
• Twin sheet forming
g
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
25. High pressure forming (HPF)
At atmosphere High pressure
Acute
A t angles?
l ? •Almost always negative
•Acute angles no problem
•Adding texture to the surface is
possible
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
26. Negative HPF
• Variable wall thickness
• Adding texture to the surface is possible
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
27. Negative HPF with stamp
• Better division of wall thickness via stamp
• Adding texture to the surface is possible
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
28. Twin sheet forming
• 2 sheets are heated up simultaneously +
formed + welded
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
29. Design:
opportunities restrictions
• Variable wall thickness
Positive Negative
• 1 side with correct dimensions as a result of
contact with mould
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
30. Design:
opportunities restrictions
• Ideal angle
g
135 °, ideal 90°, good 60°, to be avoided
to be avoided better best
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
31. Design:
opportunities restrictions
• Conics
• A id undercuts, though they are possible
Avoid d t th h th ibl
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
32. Design:
opportunities restrictions
• Depth of draw
p
Stamp
necessary ?
•S
Secondary d
d draw Strong thinning of
wall thickness
Stamp from above
with controlled
ih ll d
temperature
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
33. Design:
opportunities restrictions
• Draw ratio
sum of all surfaces initial thickness
Draw ratio = =
initial surface average final thickness
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
34. Finishing
From plate to final product
Vacuum forming with
automatic loader
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
35. Finishing
From plate to final product
5-axis milling 3D measurement
bench
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
36. Projects
• Realised projects in very diverse domains
– Medical sector
– Automotive sector / transport
– Industry
– Design & display
– Art
– ...
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk
37. Projects
• Medical sector
Part of radiology device Communication aid
CLEM N.V. Spinnerijkaai 39, B-8500 Kortrijk