Methods are provided for forming a plurality of air diffusers from a
single fiberglass and foil blank. At an automated pre-forming station
upstream of a molding station, a blank has pressed therein two air
diffuser patterns at a middle portion, two patterns at a first
catercorner portion and two patterns at a second catercorner portion and
the pressing of each set of two patterns occurs substantially
simultaneously to prevent the foil from delaminating from the fiberglass.
Thereafter, the blank is fed to a molding station that applies a
significantly larger pressing force and heats the blank to form six air
diffusers. Perforations are cut in the blank to facilitate separation of
the air diffusers in a trimming station downstream of the molding
station. Preferred pressing of air diffuser patterns occurs with
pneumatic actuated male and female air diffuser pattern molds that are
sequentially operated in accordance with a desired pattern.