Method of thermoforming an automotive trim panel
AssigneeSimco Automotive Trim, Inc.
InventorsVincent H-H Jones, Scott M. Kloock, David L. Simon
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Abstract
A trim panel for use in automotive trim applications is made from a laminate of a thermoformable support layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth or similar material. The laminate is thermoformed to impart permanently the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The support layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. Process controls are applied allowing thermoforming of parts to automotive precision.
Claims7
In a thermoforming machine having reciprocating platens for moving tooling between open and closed positions, an electric radiant heating system including a plurality of heater banks, a material handling system for moving a web of work material through the heating system and the tooling, a method of reducing the variance in thermoformed panels, comprising the steps of:
- a) maintaining platen deflection to 0.001"-0.002" deflection across the entire platen face under load;
- and
- b) maintaining parallelism total between platens at closure of 0.002" maximum under load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.