Development of a Prototype for Container Forming from Local Natural

Abstract

This research focuses on the study and design of an innovative forming process for producing containers made from natural materials. The aim was to design containers made from teak and tropical almond leaves. The design and construction of a forming machine studied the forming of food containers and the bonding process. A prototype forming machine was designed and built using a pneumatics compression system, an aluminum mold (23 × 15 × 5 cm; W × L × H). Heat is supplied through flat-plate resistive heaters and Thermocouple control. Forming tests were conducted at temperatures of 120°c, 130°c, and 150°c to examine forming quality, bonding behavior, and shape accuracy. The results show that teak-leaf containers reached the best forming quality at 150°c using three leaves, requiring a forming time of 120 seconds. Indian-almond containers required six leaves and a forming time of 190 seconds. Under these conditions, the containers showed good strength, proper adhesion, and acceptable shape consistency. The prototype machine used an average of 1.716 kW of power, resulting in a monthly electricity cost of about 1,029.6 THB. Overall, the findings indicate that the prototype thermoforming machine is practical and has potential for use in community-based production or commercial applications.