Thermoform

A method of producing tactile images and braille copies by heating a thin sheet of plastic and vacuum-forming it over a master copy (typically an embossed original) to create a durable raised-line reproduction. Thermoform machines heat plastic sheets and use vacuum pressure to mold the material over a textured original, producing copies that faithfully reproduce the tactile features of the master. Thermoform is widely used in schools for the blind and vision rehabilitation services to duplicate tactile graphics, braille documents, and maps. While the per-unit material cost is low (\/bin/zsh.13-\/bin/zsh.36 per image), thermoform machines cost between \,000-\,000, creating access barriers for families and under-resourced educational settings.