Used in all types of industries, plastics provide versatility and strength across a wide range of applications, from automotive body parts to human body parts. Each application requires a special manufacturing process that can mold the part based on specifications.
Both thermoforming and injection molding - two of the most popular manufacturing processes for crafting plastic parts - offer unique advantages depending on the particular application. While thermoforming is commonly used for large-scale designs and shorter production runs, injection molding tends to be a better choice for small, intricate parts and large production runs.
What Is Thermoforming?
Thermoforming is the process of forming a heated plastic sheet to the surface of either a male or female mold. This is a single-sided plastic fabrication process, unlike injection molding; only one side of the plastic sheet is controlled by the mold or tool. Vacuum forming and pressure forming are both popular styles of thermoforming.
Depending on a project`s needs, thermoforming can offer several distinct advantages, including:
Thermoforming is ideal for smaller production quantities (250 to 3000 parts per year).
Plastic injection molding offers several distinct advantages of its own, including:
Plastic injection molding is ideal for large-volume orders and mass production in projects requiring thousands or even millions of the same part.
What Is Injection Molding?
Injection molding requires a great deal of upfront engineering to develop detailed tooling or molds. Crafted from stainless steel or aluminum, split-die molds are injected with molten liquid polymers at high temperatures under extreme pressure. The molds are then cooled to release complete plastic parts.
