drape forming
WHAT IS DRAPE FORMING?
Drape forming, also called oven forming, is a plastic manufacturing method in which a thermoplastic sheet is placed on a positive/male mold and then heated to its softening point so that the sheet’s weight or pressure applied by an operator causes the plastic to take the shape of the mold.
ADVANTAGES OF DRAPE FORMING
- It is very cost-effective for low-volume projects.
- Parts maintain a consistent thickness and strength as the plastic is not stretched during the molding process.
- Clear or textured material retains its characteristics.
MATERIALS OFTEN USED IN DRAPE FORMING
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ABS
- Polycarbonate PC
- Polyethylene terephthalate glycol PETG
- Polymethyl Methacrylate PMMA (Acrylic, Plexiglass)
- Polypropylene PP
- Polystyrene PS (HIPS)
- Polyvinyl Chloride PVC
Contact us to discuss whether drape forming is the best option for your thermoforming project