Flexible tubing is typically produced using extrusion rather than injection molding. Here’s why extrusion is the preferred method:
Extrusion Process
- Continuous Production: Extrusion is ideal for creating long, continuous shapes like tubing. The process involves pushing material through a die to form the desired cross-section, which can then be cut to the required length.
- Consistency: Extrusion provides consistent cross-sectional dimensions throughout the length of the tubing.
- Material Efficiency: There is minimal material waste in extrusion, making it cost-effective for producing long lengths of tubing.
- Flexibility in Materials: Various flexible materials, such as PVC, silicone, and other elastomers, can be used in the extrusion process to produce flexible tubing.
Injection Molding Process
- Complex Shapes: Injection molding is more suitable for producing complex, detailed parts with intricate geometries.
- Discontinuous Production: Injection molding produces discrete parts rather than continuous lengths, making it less suitable for applications requiring long, flexible tubing.
Therefore, for manufacturing flexible tubing, extrusion is the preferred and more efficient method.
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