Design Hints for Extrusion:
| WALL THICKNESS: |
The heavier the wall, the more material required, and the slower the production.
Rule of thumb: the ideal wall is .7mm-1.5mm. Maintain as even a wall as
possible. Make unavoidable changes as gradual as possible. Details on the inside
of tubes should be thinner than the tube walls. Rule of thumb: make detail
thickness 70% of tube wall. |
| THROUGH HOLES: |
Avoid if possible. Generally, they are preferred to uneven walls. Tiny through
holes are expensive to tool and produce. |
| RADII: |
Be as generous as possible. Sharp corners are difficult to extrude and provide
stress risers. |
| TOLERANCES: |
The tighter they are, the more expensive the extrusion. Be realistic. Indicate the
truly important dimensions. Show how the part will be used. |
| MATERIALS: |
Some materials are easier to extrude than others. Some are more forgiving when
design rules are broken. Some will accept a heavier loading of a reinforcement or
filler than others. Materials selection is the single most important factor in design
success, precision production and scrap rate. Contact us for our recommendation. |
| DISPOSAL: |
Eventually, there will be a way to recycle Engineering Thermoplastics. In the
meantime, provide for disassembly and materials recovery. |
