Vacuum Forming Chillers
WPI manufactures and distributes Vacuum Forming process cooling units. Vacuum forming machines can be cooled using one central chiller unit, or each machine can be cooled using its own dedicated packaged chiller. Portable chillers can be utilized if a chiller will need to be moved from press to press throughout the shop regularly. Whaley Chillers are lightweight, and easy to operate. Simple digital temperature controls are standard unless microprocessor is requested as option. Whaley has standard chillers on the shelf, but also has a tremendous presence as one of the leaders in custom chiller production. Most applications require custom equipment. Contact an experienced vacuform cooling engineer today.
Application Description:
Vacuum forming, commonly known as vacuforming, is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold, and held against the mold by applying vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet.
The vacuum forming process can be used to make most product packaging, speaker casings and even car dashboards.
Normally, draft angles must be present in the design on the mold (a recommended minimum of 3°), otherwise release of the formed plastic and the mold is very difficult.
Vacuum forming is usually – but not always – restricted to forming plastic parts that are rather shallow in depth. A thin sheet is formed into rigid cavities for unit doses of pharmaceuticals and for loose objects that are carded or presented as point-of-purchase items. Thick sheet is formed into permanent objects such as turnpike signs and protective covers.
Relatively deep parts can be formed if the form-able sheet is mechanically or pneumatically stretched prior to bringing it in contact with the mold surface and before vacuum is applied.
Suitable materials for use in vacuum forming are conventionally thermoplastics, the most common and easiest being High Impact Polystyrene Sheeting (HIPS). This is molded around a wood, structural foam or cast/machined aluminum mold and can form to almost any shape. Vacuum forming is also appropriate for transparent materials such as acrylic which are widely used in applications for aerospace such as PCW (passenger cabin windows) canopies for military fixed wing aircraft and “bubbles” for rotary wing aircraft.
 Packaged Chillers Non-expandable (integrated pump tank) 1.5Ton – 20Ton Single / Dual Circuits Single / Dual Pumps |
 SAE Series Modular Chillers Expandable (pump & tank on separate skid) 1.5Ton – 200Ton Single / Dual Circuits |
 SAR Series Split Chillers Expandable (Outdoor Condensing Unit) (pump, tank, evaporator on indoor skid) 1.5Ton – 200Ton Single / Dual Circuits |