What mechanism is used to bend thermoplastics?

The mechanism used to bend thermoplastics involves heating the material to a pliable state with a line bender, which is designed specifically for this purpose. When thermoplastics are exposed to heat, they soften, making it possible to manipulate the material into various shapes and angles. A line bender utilizes a heated element to apply heat along a specific line of the thermoplastic, ensuring controlled bending without compromising the overall integrity of the material. Once the desired shape is achieved, the plastic can cool and retain its new form, showcasing the versatility of thermoplastics in design applications.

Other options describe processes that don’t effectively result in the bending of thermoplastics. For instance, cutting and reshaping might involve altering the shape of the material, but it does not retain the original integrity and continuous form that bending requires. Compressing the material fundamentally alters its structure, which is not suitable for achieving bends. Heating and cooling could refer to the bending process but lacks the specificity of using a line bender, which provides a controlled method for achieving precise bends.