Hi,
I recently started with a new company and having problems convincing a few people about thermoforming thin gauge products. I have 20 yrs experience in thermoforming heavy and thin-gauge parts. I am needing some information on shrink rates that are built into the tool and the die for different materials.
Then tooling group I have inherited has "always" used .007" shrinkage for PVC-PET-ABS-PP and even PE and said we never had a problem before. Well they have had issues with die cut size and alignment. They also never used shrink in the steel rule dies at all.

I mentioned to my tooling designers that each material is different. I have always used:
mold:
PVC = .003
PET = .005
ABS = .007
PP = i am not sure on this one
HDPE = also not sure on this one.

On most of the steel rule dies I used .0022".

What are some of the shrink rates you all use when designing, building and thermoforming your packaging?
Any info would be greatly appriciated.
billy