3 Methods Used To Create Plastic Tubing
by Willie Horton
Tubing has been in use for many years. Today's manufacturers often rely on plastic tubing when designing consumer products. Plastic tubing can be customized to meet the size, thickness, and strength parameters of each individual manufacturer.
A few different methods are available to manufacturers when it comes to creating plastic tubing. Each method offers unique benefits that can contribute to the overall performance of custom plastic tubing over time.
1. Cell Casting
Cell casting is one of the oldest manufacturing methods used in the creation of plastic tubing.
This process requires that manufacturers first create a mold that meets the design specifications for their desired plastic tubing. Molten plastic is then poured into the mold and allowed to cool.
Cell casting requires a lot of hands-on oversight, which makes it a labor-intensive method of tubing production. Most manufacturers only use cell casting when creating a limited number of tubing sections for a specific project.
2. Plastic Pultrusion
Plastic pultrusion is a manufacturing process that allows for the creation of durable plastic tubing.
Plastic resins and fibers are combined to create a super durable plastic material. The plastic material can be formed into tube-shaped sections that meet the specifications for an individual project.
Plastic pultrusion still requires manual oversight, but the added durability of the finished tubing helps offset the additional production costs needed to complete the pultrusion process.
3. Plastic Extrusion
Most of the plastic tubing that is generated through modern manufacturing is created via plastic extrusion. This process is entirely mechanized, which allows more tubing to be created in a shorter period of time when compared with other manufacturing methods.
Raw plastic materials are placed into a hopper, which feeds a turning screw. The friction from the turning screw melts the plastic stock to a liquid state. Liquified plastic is then forced through a die to create a tube shape.
The die can be swapped out to create tubing of any diameter and with any wall thickness. After the tubing has cooled, it is fed through a cutting machine and trimmed to the correct length.
Custom plastic tubing contributes to the performance of many consumer products. Manufacturers have a wide range of methods available when it comes to creating plastic tubing. Using the right manufacturing method will strike a balance between production costs and product durability.
Be sure that you utilize the right manufacturing method the next time you need access to custom plastic tubing.
Contact a tubing company, such as Seiler Plastics, to learn more.
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