Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds | Prototyping, Custom Parts, or Small Batch Production

In this video, we'll cover the basics of thermoforming, and present you how to create thermoforming 3D printed molds quickly and cost-effectively with 3D printing for prototyping, custom parts, and small batch production. Learn more: bit.ly/3QiNolP
We will talk in more detail about the thermoforming process, producing thermoforming 3D print molds and thermoforming applications.
Thermoforming is a set of manufacturing techniques for processing plastic sheets. It is a popular solution for producing a variety of products from disposable food packaging and consumer goods to heavy-duty structures and automotive components.
Thermoforming is a relatively simple process, that enables the production of medium to large volumes of parts at an affordable cost. However, traditional methods for producing thermoforming tooling come with high costs and long lead times. With in-house 3D printing, manufacturers and product designers can fabricate tooling fast and at a low cost to accelerate product development and enable low-volume or custom production.
One of the thermoforming techniques is vacuum forming which is the most basic, least expensive, and most used of these techniques. In this technique, a sheet of plastic is heated and pulled around a single mold using suction. This technique is ideal for parts precisely formed only on one side, such as contoured packaging for food or electronics.
Another one is pressure forming where the heated sheet of plastic is forced into the tool with pressure, with which complex and intricate details are formed and parts with a surface finish similar to injection molded parts are created.
Thermoforming molds are usually made out of aluminum, wood, or composite board. Many businesses are turning to stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing to create molds for thermoforming processes-also known as rapid tooling, because it offers a fast turnaround time at a low price point, especially for shorter runs, custom parts, and prototype designs. 3D printing also offers unmatched design freedom to create complex and intricate molds.
00:00 Introduction to Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds
00:54 Thermoforming Processes
01:34 Producing Thermoforming Molds With 3D Printing
02:28 Thermoforming With 3D Printing Workflow
03:12 Examples of 3D Printed Molds in Thermoforming Applications
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Low-Volume Rapid Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds: bit.ly/3QiNolP
Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds Quick Start Guide: bit.ly/3NGgEBr
Thermoforming Table of Process Conditions: bit.ly/3twDbZx
Rapid Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds: A Practical Guide: bit.ly/3QfXsfr
Request a Free 3D Printed Sample Part: bit.ly/39tgf6p
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Formlabs is expanding access to digital fabrication, so anyone can make anything. Headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts with offices in North Carolina, Germany, Hungary, Japan, China, and Singapore, Formlabs is the professional 3D printer of choice for engineers, designers, manufacturers, and decision-makers around the globe.
Through a continuous commitment to innovation, Formlabs has become the largest supplier of professional stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers in the world. Formlabs also develops its own suite of high-performance 3D printing materials that continue to expand the range of applications of additive manufacturing, as well as best-in-class 3D printing software, post-processing tools, and automation solutions.

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📖 Download the Whitepaper: Low-Volume Rapid Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds: bit.ly/3QiNolP 💻 Watch our Webinar: Rapid Thermoforming With 3D Printed Molds: A Practical Guide: bit.ly/3QfXsfr​ 🆓 Request a Free 3D Printed Sample Part: ​bit.ly/39tgf6p

[@J87513]

Do you think I could use vacuum thermoform polycarbonate for sunglass lenses?

[@zaratennegger]

Of course you can!