Thermoforming Services
CNC Machinery in the Thermoforming Process
The thermoforming process implies the need to cut and trim the formed shapes, for they appear as protruding surfaces of a flat sheet of plastic material.
The separation of the single formed pieces from the original plastic sheet can be operated manually, with a whipsaw and other cutting tools, or in a more rapid and precise way through the use of CNC machinery.
Some products, which require a particularly complex cutting and trimming process, need to be processed with automated systems such as CNC cutters and trimmers. Due to the use of CNC machinery, the manufacturing process can reach high levels of precision and speed, incomparable to any handwork results.
In addition to our anthropomorphic robots, we can offer the clients the features of a brand new CNC machine: a large machine that can handle workpieces up to 4800/2600/1200 mm.
The reduction of manufacturing times and production costs in cutting and trimming steps for the thermoforming applications is crucial: that’s why LMP decided, long ago, to invest in research and modern technologies implementation related to CNC.
CNC machinery for thermoforming: types of machines
CNC cutting is a process that provides an excellent finishing of the edges of the parts, allowing a perfect matching of different pieces needing to be assembled. In the thermoforming process, the use of CNC machinery is irreplaceable nowadays, as it also provides much faster processing times than manual cutting operations.
There are different types of CNC machines, among the ones used for cutting parts in the thermoforming process:
- 2-axis CNC machines: this kind of cutting system is the right tool when the workpiece needs a single linear axis cutting; this machine is also known as a x-y, or bidimensional robot;
- 3-axis CNC machines: this type of machines is used when the workpiece needs a three linear axis cut (x-y-z);
- Multi-axis CNC machines: when the processing involves more complex geometries, such as some workpieces whose edges follow irregular cutting lines, then the only option is using multi-axis machines. This type of CNC machine, often used in the thermoforming process, allows a multi-axis movement of the cutting tools.
Within the thermoforming process, the cutting and trimming steps could need most of the resources involved in the entire manufacturing process in terms of working and production costs.
The reduction of manufacturing times and production costs in cutting and trimming steps for the thermoforming applications is crucial: that’s why LMP decided, long ago, to invest in research and modern technologies implementation related to CNC.
