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Thermoforming Heating Time Estimator

Thermoforming Heating Time Estimator — PET / PP / PLA Preheat Times

Thermoforming Heating Time Estimator

Estimate thermoforming sheet preheat time in seconds. Select material (PET/PP/PLA), enter sheet thickness and oven temperature — our tool returns a production-ready estimate plus a physics-based check.

Estimate Now

Heating Time Calculator

Calculate Heating Time

Range: 0.1 - 5 mm
Typical range: 80 - 300 °C
Optional - defaults to material standard
Advanced Settings

How heating time is calculated

This tool provides two estimates:

  1. Empirical method - based on factory trial data & equipment efficiency (recommended for production)
  2. Physical method - based on heat diffusion theory (for cross-checking)

Example Calculations

Example 1: PET Sheet

Parameters: Material = PET, Thickness = 1.0 mm, Oven temperature = 200°C, Target center temp = 140°C

Using default A_PET = 55 s/mm², C_mode = 1.0 (hot-air), ΔT_ref=100°C
Base time = 55 × 1.0² = 55 seconds
Temperature correction: 55 × (100/60) = 91.67 seconds
Heating mode (hot-air) multiplier = 1.0 → 91.67 seconds
Final estimate: ≈ 92 seconds (±20% → 74-110 seconds)

Example 2: PP Sheet

Parameters: Material = PP, Thickness = 2.0 mm, Oven temperature = 180°C, Target center temp = 120°C

Using default A_PP = 45 s/mm², C_mode = 0.7 (IR), ΔT_ref=100°C
Base time = 45 × 2.0² = 180 seconds
Temperature correction: 180 × (100/60) = 300 seconds
Heating mode (IR) multiplier = 0.7 → 210 seconds
Final estimate: ≈ 210 seconds (±20% → 168-252 seconds)

Example 3: PLA Sheet

Parameters: Material = PLA, Thickness = 0.5 mm, Oven temperature = 220°C, Target center temp = 160°C

Using default A_PLA = 60 s/mm², C_mode = 0.8 (IR+convection), ΔT_ref=100°C
Base time = 60 × 0.5² = 15 seconds
Temperature correction: 15 × (100/60) = 25 seconds
Heating mode (IR+convection) multiplier = 0.8 → 20 seconds
Final estimate: ≈ 20 seconds (±20% → 16-24 seconds)

常见问题

Why do empirical and physics estimates differ?

Physical estimate is based purely on heat diffusion theory, while empirical method uses actual factory trial data and accounts for equipment efficiency. The empirical method is generally more accurate for production planning as it incorporates real-world factors like oven uniformity and material variability.

Can this tool handle multi-layer sheets?

Currently, this tool is designed for single-layer sheets. For laminated or multi-layer materials, the heating characteristics can vary significantly depending on the layer composition and bonding. We recommend contacting our engineering team for customized calculations for multi-layer applications.

How accurate is the estimate?

Typical accuracy is ±15-30% depending on oven uniformity and material variability. The confidence interval can be adjusted using the tolerance setting. For best results, we always recommend running a one-sheet trial before full production to fine-tune the heating time for your specific setup.

What if my material isn't listed?

If your material isn't listed, you can select "Other" and manually enter the material constants (A_mat and α) if you know them. For unknown materials, we recommend starting with values for a similar material and adjusting based on trial results.

How does heating mode affect the time?

Different heating methods have different efficiency. Infrared heating is generally faster than hot-air convection because it directly heats the material surface. Mixed methods (IR + convection) offer a balance. The tool accounts for these differences through the heating mode coefficients (C_mode).

Can I save my calculation results?

Yes, you can download a PDF report of your calculation using the "Download PDF" button, or copy the values to your clipboard. For frequent users, we recommend bookmarking this page or noting down your parameters for future reference.

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