Factors affecting efficiency in the production process of thermoforming molds

Plastic raw material, which is present in every aspect of human life, from toys to robotic technologies, from the space and aircraft industry to pharmaceutical packaging, and has survived to the present day with the discovery of natural cellulose, is being developed as technology progresses. The demand for plastic materials has increased due to the fact that they are flexible and easy to shape, can be easily converted into useful products, and produce lower-cost products than alternative areas of use. From pharmaceutical packaging to food packaging, plastic materials used almost every day have gained a place in human life. Many plastic packages, such as food packaging, can be obtained from different processes. One of these processes is the thermoforming process. Thermoform consists of words meaning forming with heat. In the thermoforming process, plastic material sheet is shaped using heat, pressure and vacuum. These shaped materials are transformed into materials that we use almost every day, such as fruit and vegetable containers, chocolate and biscuit packaging. Since the products obtained in the thermoforming process are obtained by turning the extruded plastic raw material into sheets, it is a secondary production technology. Sheets are produced from extruded plastic raw material and turned into rolls. The plastic sheet rolled into rolls forms the first part of the production line on the machine. The mold of the product to be produced is assembly on the thermoforming machine and indirectly feeds the machine with the rolled sheet. Heat, pressure and vacuum are used depending on the type and thickness of the plate. Cooling is required in the machine line and mold to balance the rising temperature due to heat. In order to ensure long-term operation, it is necessary to obtain optimum temperatures by continuously cooling the mold heated by the plate. Useful product is obtained with optimum heat, pressure, vacuum, cooling and qualified personnel. Within the scope of this study, the process from the historical development of plastic until it is obtained as a product from the thermoform molding process has been examined. Thermoform molds were examined by considering extrusion, machine, printing process of the plate and other factors as optimum. Factors affecting efficiency in the production processes of molds produced in the thermoforming process were evaluated. Mold design and production processes are explained and issues affecting the efficiency factor in these processes are touched upon.