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The Formech TF686 is a versatile industrial vacuum forming and thermoforming machine designed for automated production while maintaining a relatively compact footprint. Combining advanced automation, precise process control and flexible material handling, the TF686 provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for manufacturers looking to integrate industrial vacuum forming into their production workflow.
The TF686 can operate autonomously with roll-fed materials up to 1.8 mm thick and 700 mm wide, while sheet materials up to 6 mm thick can be processed with a maximum sheet size of 686 x 660 mm.
This makes the Formech TF686 suitable for a wide range of applications, including industrial thermoforming, packaging production, technical components, product development, automotive components and continuous vacuum forming applications.
The machine combines a robust industrial construction with advanced features including Plug Assist, pneumatic clamping, ceramic heating elements, automated table and heater movement, cooling systems, a vacuum receiver tank, safety light curtains and a wide range of optional upgrades
The TF686 uses high-quality ceramic heating elements designed for demanding, high-volume production environments. Ceramic heaters are particularly suitable for applications where the heating system operates for extended periods and a consistent, stable temperature needs to be maintained.
The pneumatically driven Plug Assist pushes heated thermoplastic material into the cavities of the mould before vacuum forming. This helps improve material distribution and increases material thickness at the bottom of deeper cavities.
The pneumatically operated hinged clamping frame provides powerful and consistent material clamping while reducing operator effort. This contributes to repeatable forming results and comfortable machine operation.
Sixteen independently controlled heating zones provide precise heat distribution and fast thermal response. This allows operators to adjust the heating profile for complex geometries, different thermoplastics and demanding forming applications.
The optional reel feed assembly enables the TF686 to process thermoplastic material supplied from a roll. This is particularly beneficial for high-volume vacuum forming and continuous thermoforming applications.
| Specification | TF686 |
|---|---|
| Forming Area | 647 x 622 mm |
| Maximum Sheet Size | 686 x 660 mm |
| Maximum Draw Depth | 350 mm |
| Maximum Material Thickness | 6 mm |
| Heating Zones | 16 |
| Heater Type | Ceramic |
| Width | 3,677 mm |
| Height | 2,600 mm |
| Depth | 2,639 mm |
| Weight | 1,150 kg |
| European Power Supply | 380–415 V / 3 Phase / 32 A |
| US Power Supply | 208–220 V / 3 Phase / 40 A |
| Power Consumption | 11.0 kW |
| External Air Supply | 80 PSI / 5 bar |
| Machine Type | Semi- and fully automated vacuum forming machine |
| Product Type | Industrial vacuum forming / thermoforming machine |
The TF686 is equipped with a WAGO control system and 10-inch colour touchscreen. Operators can make real-time adjustments, use 1% incremental controls and monitor the forming cycle through the Formech CycleView interface.
Up to 40 production programmes can be stored for repeatable manufacturing.
A reel feed assembly allows roll-fed thermoplastic materials to be processed automatically, making the machine suitable for higher-volume production environments.
The pneumatic Plug Assist pushes heated material into the mould cavities before vacuum is applied. This improves material distribution and helps maintain more consistent wall thickness in deep-forming applications.
The pneumatic heater drive provides fast and controlled movement of the heating system. Controlled acceleration and braking help ensure accurate heater positioning while reducing mechanical stress.
The forming table is pneumatically driven with adjustable speed control, allowing precise and repeatable table movement throughout the forming cycle.
Adjusting the table height reduces unnecessary table travel when using shallow moulds. This can help reduce cycle times and improve production efficiency.
The pre-stretch function allows air to be introduced beneath the heated sheet, creating a controlled air bubble before forming. This helps improve material distribution and reduce excessive thinning during deep-draw applications.
Auto-Level prevents the heated material from sagging during the heating cycle. It maintains a consistent distance between the heater and sheet while providing an audible indication when the material is ready for forming.
The vacuum flow regulator provides precise control of vacuum application. This is particularly useful for demanding forming applications where controlled vacuum application is required.
An integrated vacuum receiver tank provides an immediate reserve of vacuum. This can contribute to faster forming cycles and improved performance with demanding materials.
Visual gauges provide clear monitoring of the vacuum and air pressure applied during the forming process.
The safety light curtain protects operators by stopping mechanical movement when the safety field is interrupted.
An overhead cooling system with two 550 W fans helps cool formed components and can reduce overall cycle times.
A silicone O-ring is installed into a machined recess around the forming area. When the clamping frame closes, the O-ring compresses against the thermoplastic sheet to provide a reliable seal during vacuum forming.
The TF686 can be equipped with a high-performance vacuum pump providing 21 m³/h capacity for demanding industrial vacuum forming applications.
The Formech TF686 can be configured with a range of options to meet specific production requirements.
A negative gate allows female or negative-formed components to pass through the machine when using roll-fed material. This is useful for applications where the formed component extends below the tool plate.
A reducing frame decreases the effective forming area, allowing smaller sheets to be used. This can help reduce material consumption and minimise production waste.
Spray mist can be combined with the cooling fan system to increase cooling performance and reduce forming cycle times.
A water-cooled bolster provides direct cooling and helps control aluminium tooling temperature. This can improve consistency and enable faster production cycles.
A heating pyrometer provides accurate sheet temperature feedback and allows the heating process to respond to the target material temperature.
A cooling pyrometer monitors sheet temperature and can initiate mould release once the target temperature has been reached.
The standard 16 heating zones can be upgraded to 26 independently controlled heating zones, providing even greater control over the heating profile.
A twin-heater configuration adds both upper and lower heating. This option is designed for demanding materials and applications where additional heating control and shorter cycle times are required.
The configuration consists of a 16-zone upper heater and a 10-zone lower heater.
The servo-driven Plug Assist provides highly precise control of position and speed. It is designed for demanding applications where movement needs to be controlled accurately down to the millimetre.
The servo table provides precise and repeatable control of table movement, including adjustable speed and accurate positioning. It offers a similar level of control to the servo Plug Assist.
Individual thermocouples can be integrated into the ceramic heating elements to provide full temperature feedback using PID control.
Operators can set the desired temperature for individual heating elements, with temperature information displayed directly on the touchscreen interface.
Quartz heaters offer rapid response and high heating efficiency. This can provide potential time and energy savings, particularly in applications requiring fast heating cycles.
Multi-user PIN access allows machine supervisors to define different access levels for individual operators. This can help control machine settings and maintain consistent production processes.
The two-stage clamping system opens the front section of the clamping frame followed by the rear section. This allows deeper formed components to pass through the machine more easily.
A spare parts kit can be supplied with commonly required consumable components such as seals, heating elements, filters, fuses and clamping components.
The Formech TF686 industrial vacuum forming machine is suitable for a broad range of thermoplastic forming applications, including:
With its combination of automated operation, precise heating control, Plug Assist, pneumatic movement and flexible material handling, the TF686 can be configured for both development environments and demanding production workflows.
The TF686 offers a balance between industrial production capability, automation and machine footprint. Its ability to process both sheet and roll-fed thermoplastic materials makes it a flexible platform for manufacturers producing a wide variety of formed plastic components.
For companies looking to automate or scale their vacuum forming process, the TF686 provides a configurable industrial solution with advanced heating, forming, cooling and control capabilities.
Formech TF686 – industrial vacuum forming and thermoforming for efficient, repeatable and scalable production.
