VAC Form Tools
We provide VAC form tooling for many companies. Ranging from small blister packs to shower trays, Earth moving vehicle bonnets, roofs, side panels, dashboards. Whatever your requirements we have the experience to create whatever you need.
Wood patterns are generally the first stage in vacuum forming. They are relatively inexpensive and allow the customer to make changes to their design easily. The number of samples that one is able to get from a wood pattern depends on the size of the part and the thickness of the material. Once the specifications of the part have been met, the wood pattern is then used to create a Cast aluminium mould for regular production. Cast aluminium moulds are cast at a foundry and typically have temperature control lines running through them. This helps to set the heat of the plastic being formed as well as speed up the fabrication process.
Aluminium moulds can be male or female in nature, and can also be used in pressure forming applications. Machined aluminium moulds are like cast aluminium, but are cut out of a solid block of aluminium using a CNC machine and a CAD program. Typically, machined aluminium is used for shallow draw parts out of thin gauge material. Applications may include packaging and trays. Cost is a significant factor with this type of tooling. Composite moulds are a lower cost alternative to cast or machined aluminium moulds. Composite moulds are typically made from filled resins that start as a liquid and harden with time. Depending on the application, composite moulds can last a very long time and produce high quality parts.