How Aluminum is Used in Thermoform Tooling

Thermoform tooling is the process of creating the necessary tools for the thermoforming process. The variety of materials that could be used to make the molds used to form the plastic can be anything from wood or steel, but aluminum is the better option for several reasons. Aluminum is one of the most adaptable and cost-effective materials to use in thermoform tooling. It provides quality and durability like none other which allows the manufacturer to reuse the same mold to make a great number of tools.

The process of thermoforming goes as follows:

 
The sheet goes through a similar process as it is heated to a high enough temperature so that it can be stretched onto a mold and then cooled. The majority of thermoforming customers will need a variety of tools in many different shapes and sizes, which is why manufacturers need to have molds to fit all of their consumer’s needs. There are low-cost temporary options available such as wood or composites but theses options lack durability.

When these manufacturers are in search of material that will create a high-quality product at a rate that will maximize their returns, there is no better option than aluminum.

How Aluminum is Used

There are two different forms of aluminum that can be used in the thermoforming process. These are machined aluminum and cast aluminum.

Molds made from machined aluminum are most likely used for small draw ratios or shallow parts. These molds need to be mounted to a control base to manage the temperature of the mold during the formation process. Machined aluminum is unique to cast aluminum as it has the ability to offer texturing. This can be used along with loose and pneumatic inserts and cores.

Cast aluminum generally has larger draw ratios and are most-likely for a pre-designed pattern. These two share the ability to create molds that can form male or female molds that have the potential of being vacuum- or pressure-formed.

At Avion Alloys, all of our aluminum is fully certified by U.S.producing mills. We are a NASA-approved vendor serving a variety of industries locally and globally. If you have questions about any of our steel products or would like to receive a quote, contact us at (800) 408-2329 or visit us online.