Porous thermoforming tool for molding grain-embossed films used in production of grained products has a shell structure with grained face penetrated by vacuum passages

摘要

The steel tool forms a contoured shell into whose molding surface(9) a grain pattern is etched. Air passages(14) for drawing a film(23) onto the molding surface are produced in the wall(5) behind the molding surface by laser or erosion. An independent claim is made for a grained component produced in the claimed tool and is manufactured by: (a) heating a film and thermoforming with vacuum onto the grained tool; (b) transferring the grained film to a carrier part(11) onto which it is coated.