Industrial Association

1
Throughput-time reduction and First Time Right
production for the thermoform industry by
introducing a predictive mould design and
manufacturing system.
Industrial Association AGORIA (BE), FEAMM
(ES), GKV (DE), GTMA (UK), KC (AT),
PVT (NL), Industrial Participants Accuform
(CR) Linecross (UK) Sabert Europe (BE) Missler
software (FR) Jacob Kunststoffe (DE) Batelaan
Kunststoffen (NL) Midas (UK) Decorchapa
(ES) Marcus Pammer (AU) Unipa Kunststoffe
(DE) Haarlemse Modelm. (NE) Omniform
(BE) Plasvina (ES) Research and
Development University Stuttgart,
TNO, ASCAMM, CRIF, RAPRA, AIMPLAS,
PERA.

• Summary
• The T-ForM project will result in a technology to
  supply the thermoform industry with
• Design guidelines for thermoformed parts
• A complete proposal for an ideal thermoforming
  mould design, based on, and connected to , a
  dedicated Production Simulation software tool by
  developing a predictive mould design software
  tool for thermoforming
• Optimal thermoforming parameter settings coming
  from the developed predictive mould design
  software tool

More information can be found at the website
www.t-form.eu. This project is supported by
funding under the 6th Research Framework
Programme of the European Union
2

• It will allow the user to prepare existing
  component cad data for a mould tool by defining
  mould geometry, capping of component holes,
  carryout draft angle and radii analysis. In
  addition shrinkage compensation, extensions and
  product orientation in the sheet analysis can be
  made.
• Once the component and tooling are defined
  thermoforming simulation can be made to predict
  final component thickness using improved
  prediction software modules.
• Finally a production cost analysis tool is
  available to predict component cost.
• In addition Design guidelines and training
  modules for thermoforming best practice will be
  available.

• Supported by the European Commission, Six
  National Manufacturing Associations within Europe
  have joined forces to develop a predictive mould
  design software tool for thermoforming production
• T-ForM is a new software platform being
  developed by the consortium that
• Determines final component cost to manufacture.
• Specify sheet thickness
• Specify best tool material option and affect on
  cycle time
• Determine processing conditions
• T-ForM operates in conjunction with T-Sim
  thermoforming simulation software and TopSolid
  CAD/CAM package.