Plastic Extrusion Molding

Mon, 10 Mar 2008

Plastic extrusion is a manufacturing process in which raw plastic material is heated and forced thru a die to form an continuous shape with constant cross section.

Extrusion is used to produce items such as pipe/tubing, weather stripping, window frames, plastic sheeting, adhesive tape and wire insulation. Thermoplastic materials are fed from a hopper into the heated barrel of an extruder. A rotating helical screw inside the barrel pushes the plastic through the barrel toward the die located at the end of the machine. Molten plastic is then forced through the die opening. 

In designing for extrusion molding it is recommended to avoid sharp inside and outside corners and provide even wall thickness. It is advisable to avoid designing profiles with hollow sections as they add to the cost of the tooling.

A key advantage of plastic extrusion molding is low cost as the process is simple and continuous once properly setup.

eMachineShop provides easy, convenient and low-cost fabrication via extrusion molding and other manufacturing processes. Whether a custom part for a special project, a repair part or a component of a new product, eMachineShop offers the convenience of online design, pricing, manufacturing feedback and ordering.