Many plastic sheet materials can be shaped by thermoforming.
Thermoforming plastic sheets.
Plastic materials for thermoforming.
Overview of thermoforming thermoformable plastic sheets from professional plastics.
Using standard tools kydex thermoforming sheets can be drilled vacuum formed brake formed or punch pressed kydex is a machinable thermoplastic that can be molded to form fit just about any shape imaginable without expensive tools and machinery.
Widgetworks unlimited thermoform plastic sheets are perfect for inventors small businesses and diy hobbyists who want to make custom vacuum formed plastic parts.
This selection of materials are best known for their excellent formability in addition to their individual traits of toughness chemical resistance and heat resistance for example.
Amorphous plastics like abs and polycarbonate generally have wide processing windows and good melt strength making them easy to thermoform.
Thermoforming is a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature formed to a specific shape in a mold and tripped to create a usable product.
Some plastics like hdpe and pp have narrower processing windows and lower melt strength which make them more difficult but not impossible to thermoform.