Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) and Polycarbonate (PC) are the two most quoted sheet materials for vacuum formed prototype and short run parts in medical and pharmaceutical projects. Both run well on standard thermoforming equipment, but they differ in clarity, toughness and sealing.
Everything here can be checked on a real sample before you commit to a production order.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines vacuum formed prototype and short run parts by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include production intent materials; low cost machined or printed tooling; single cavity prototype tools. Materials most often specified are Polypropylene, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the medical and pharmaceutical sector the decision is usually driven by validated sealing and sterilisation compatibility, with traceability as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include device trays, surgical kit trays, pharmaceutical blisters.
These figures are typical for commercial grades and should be confirmed against the supplier's certificate for your specific lot.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | 1.20 g/cm³ | 55-70 MPa | -40°C to 120°C |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol | 1.27 g/cm³ | 45-55 MPa | -40°C to 70°C |
| Polypropylene | 0.90-0.91 g/cm³ | 25-40 MPa | -10°C to 100°C |
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol is frequently the default selection here: PETG forms at lower temperatures and holds detail well, which is why it dominates medical trays.
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol grades offer excellent clarity with no stress whitening, while Polycarbonate brings outstanding impact strength (250x glass). For medical and pharmaceutical service the difference shows up in creep and in the long term behaviour under load.
Both materials can be validated quickly with a small sample run, which is the cheapest way to settle the argument for your own application.
Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.
Processing method drives both cost and performance, so it should be fixed early in the design.
Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.
Use this checklist when comparing two or three supplier quotations.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.
Standard packing is export cartons on fumigation-free pallets, with custom labelling, barcode and retail packing available. We also handle consolidated containers and door to door delivery.
A new tool typically takes 25 to 45 days depending on cavity count and complexity, followed by T1 samples within one week. Existing tools can usually start production within 10 to 15 days of order confirmation.
Yes. Standard samples are normally free of charge and shipped within three working days; custom samples are charged at cost and credited against the first production order.
We can provide ISO 9001 quality system documentation, material certificates, RoHS and REACH statements, and where applicable food contact, flame retardancy or drinking water approvals. Tell us your target market and we will match the document set.
Our team supplies vacuum formed prototype and short run parts to medical and pharmaceutical customers worldwide, with samples, material certificates and full inspection reports available before mass production.
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