Successful thermoforming heavily depends on a tool that is well-suited to the task at hand. Tools themselves, however, will differ depending on the manufacturing method used to create them. In this article, we’ll take a look at several popular manufacturing methods – such as 3D printing technologies – that can be used to create thermoforming tools, as well as a few points to consider about each.
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is the process of creating a 3D object from a digital model. It is done layer by layer – hence “additive” – typically with a material such as plastic, resin, or powder.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printing is an additive manufacturing technology in which layers of materials are fused together. The material – in the form of plastic or composite filament – is first heated, then extruded following a pattern, creating an object layer by layer.
Ultimaker S5 (left) and Mayku FormBox (right)
FDM 3D printed templates on a Mayku FormBox