Cognex In-Sight Sensor Pass/Fail Software Speeds Up Process Thermoforming quality control is of utmost importance here at ATI. In our ongoing effort to improve our quality control, we recently began using a Cognex In-Sight sensor to inspect parts. We use the sensor in our Assembly Department to quickly register missing or mis-located items. Within seconds, … Read more
Plastic Thermoforming Techniques There are a wide variety of plastic thermoforming techniques. Types of plastic forming you may have heard of include: thin gauge, roll-fed, heavy gauge, cut sheet, injection molding, blow molding, and roto-molding, to name a few. It can be confusing to the un-initiated customer who wants to make a plastic part. We … Read more
Twin Sheet Thermoforming – A Better Choice So, we know you’re wondering ‘what processes can twin sheet thermoforming replace?‘ Terrific question! To complete our series on Twin Sheet Thermoforming, we are going to talk about some of the processes that twin sheet thermoforming can replace. In our first post, we explained to you exactly what … Read more
Twin Sheet Vacuum Forming Process Compatible With Most Thermoplastics We continue our series on twin sheet vacuum forming with a discussion about materials we can use in the process. We can employ the twin sheet vacuum forming process with almost any thermoplastic, and we’ve worked with most of them. ABS, styrene, TPO, polyethylene, TPU, polypropylene, … Read more
Are You Wondering “What Is Twin Sheet Thermoforming?” We’re here to answer the frequently asked question “What is Twin Sheet Thermoforming?” The twin sheet thermoforming process lives in the background of the thermoforming world, not well known, nor understood. Related processes, vacuum forming and pressure forming have been around and widely accepted for years. However, the … Read more
Thermoforming Statistical Process Control Integral Part of QA In keeping with our focus on thermoforming statistical process control, we use SPC, or Statistical Process Control, to monitor process variables. SPC is part of the ‘Six Sigma” philosophy, used to see how consistently our processes are controlled. Over time, manufacturing processes tend to deviate from the … Read more
Sag Eye Laser Indexing Indispensable in Thermoforming – We in the thermoforming industry have used sag eye laser indexing for years to cycle or index our machines. A sag eye is a laser beam that is directed thru an oven. To begin, we insert the plastic sheet into the oven and and begin the heating process. The … Read more
Vacuum Molding 1st Place in Heavy Gauge Category Vacuum molding is what we’re great at. We were excited to bring home 2 more gold awards at the 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers thermoforming competition. The Touch Tower soft drink dispensing system, made for Lancer, won 1st Place in the Heavy Gauge Category. This product employs LED touch … Read more
Importance Of Tool Design For Precision Fabrication Twin-sheet thermoforming can yield many interesting geometries in the “parting-line”. This is the area where the two sheets knit or weld together. That being said however, the weld is critical for the functioning of the part. The key concept in twin-sheet thermoforming is to compress the two starting … Read more
Assistance With Design Can Be Cost Saving Often times with Precision Pressure-forming©, ATI can replace fabricated parts with “formed features”. For example, the feature shown here used to be a machined and fabricated Latch. The latch was then assembled to the base part, resulting in considerable cost. Through a redesign of the part and mold, … Read more
Associated Thermoforming, Inc.
We are the Experts in Custom Plastics Thermoforming.
