276-3
Understanding Thermoforming
1999, 150 pages, 67 figures, by James L. Throne
$49.95

Description
Understanding Thermoforming is a primer developed during many in-plant short courses and the basic thermoforming course sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It is designed for people who may not have extensive formal education. This book also offers a first introduction to the technology for plastics product manufacturers who would like to add thermoforming to the processes they currently run, such as injection molding or blow molding. Understanding Thermoforming helps the reader to learn about: · The history of thermoforming technology, general markets, and processing methods technologies that compete with thermoforming. · Important polymer characteristics. · Major methods used in contemporary thermoforming. · Commercially manufactured machines designed to produce quality parts with high productivity, high reliability, and low maintenance costs. · The three methods of heat transfer and how each is used in thermoforming. · Stretching characteristics of the rubbery plastic and the extent of stretching needed to produce useful formed parts. · Two types of trimming. · The purposes of the thermoforming mold. · General guidelines on part design.

Table of Contents
Chapter One-Introduction to Thermoforming. Chapter Two-Polymers and Plastics. Chapter Three-General Forming Concepts. Chapter Four-Machinery for the Forming Process. Chapter Five-Methods of Heating Sheet. Chapter Six-Sheet Stretching and Cooling. Chapter Seven-Trimming. Chapter Eight-Molds and Mold Design. Chapter Nine-Part Design. Chapter Ten-Quality Control Issues. Chapter Eleven-Set-Up, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting. Glossary of Terms. Recommendations for Further Reading. Index.