How Are Breathable Materials Vacuum-formed?

When a breathable material is thermoformed using a vacuum method (as shown in the diagram below), a non-breathable rubber pad must be used.




1-Upper mold frame; 2-Rubber pad fixed to the upper mold frame; 3-Permeable material; 4-Lower mold frame; 5-Forming tool; 6-Low-temperature heating device; 7-Vacuum.

The forming process using a rubber pad assistant:

1. Load the material.
2. Close the mold frame.
3. Heat, but only with low-temperature heating.
4. Stop heating.
5. Lift the tool.
6. Open the vacuum to allow the rubber pad to press the material onto the forming tool.
7. Cool.
8. Remove the mold.

Advantages: No need for a shaping mold.
Disadvantages: Each cycle requires heating and cooling of the rubber pad, resulting in longer heating and cooling times.

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