Vacuum-forming: avocado packaging tray The soft form of the avocado packaging tray lends itself well to the vacuum-forming process. The material becomes much thinner as it is stretched over the former, so if the tray had sharp features the rapid process could lead to the material being pierced. The stress on the material can also reduce overall colour uniformity. Also, because the tray is created over a former, undercuts need to be avoided.
Draft angle A ‘draft angle’ is a slight angle to the side of a mould that assists in the removal of a formed part. A vertical side is often to be avoided as it can create friction that can lead to damage of the part during removal. For example, a sandcastle bucket has a slight angle or taper to it so that the bucket can be removed easily from the formed castle. The principle is the same in moulding.
Forming > Moulding
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