Thermoforming is the oldest and most common method of forming heated materials into three-dimensional shapes, dating back to ancient Micronesia and Egypt. Vacuum forming is the most common method of thermoforming, whereby flat plastic sheets are heated to a pliable temperature and drawn over or into a mold by a vacuum until it takes on the desired shape and cooled. Vacuum formed products are all around us and play a major part in our daily lives, from simple blister packaging to the detailed interiors of automobiles, trains, ships and aircraft. This popularity is due to the fact that vacuum forming is the most economical method of producing these products. Quick start up, low tooling costs, effective prototyping and material diversity are just some of the reasons why vacuum forming is the preferred method of forming plastics, from home hobbyists to industrial manufacturers.
