Extrusion Molding

What is Extrusion Molding?

Extrusion molding is a manufacturing process transforming thermoplastics into products like plastic sheets, pipes, tubes, drinking straws, optical fibers, curtain rails, etc. Extruded products are usually long with consistent cross section.

What is the extrusion molding process?

If you can imagine how spaghetti is made, molten plastic is squeezed through a shaped orifice, typically a custom made and designed steel die in the shape of the cross section of the intended final product. The extrusion process produces a continuous work piece; refer to the diagram below.

Molten thermoplastic beads, granules, or flakes are placed in the hopper and fed into the heating barrel via gravity. A reciprocating screw melts, mixes, and moves the molten plastic forward and is pushed through the steel die where the shaped plastic is cooled.