THE EXTRUSION PROCESS
SILOS
Thermoplastic resin material is stored in silos until it is time to start the extrusion process.
HOPPER
Raw thermoplastic resin is fed into a hopper and then into the extruder barrel, where it is heated and moved by one or more spinning screws.
MAGUIRE GRAVIMETRIC BLENDER – MIXES COLOR
The system automatically accurately dispenses each color material into the resin. For 100 lbs of material, up to a pound and a half concentrate is needed.
PELLETS FALL DOWN THE HOPPER AND ARE HEATED AND MELTED DOWN
The breaker plate is a safety feature that uses magnets to remove metal objects from the machine, preventing them from causing damage.
The green portion of the plastic extrusion machine contains several barrel heaters, which are used to melt the plastic resin.
4 different zones – Feed Zone, Transition Zone, Mixing Zone, Metering Zone.
Cooling zones use pipes to circulate cold water, which helps to solidify the plastic and prevent it from overheating.
EXTRUSION
The material passes into a custom-built die that features the desired extrusion profile. The melted, compressed plastic retains the shape of the die, creating uniform components. Plastic extruders form materials into sheets or rolls, depending on your needs.
THE FINAL PRODUCT
The sheets and/or rolls are then naturally cooled. The process leaves you with durable non-metallic materials, ready to be punched or stamped into flat components of various sizes, such as: spacers, washers, gaskets, shims, or other custom products.
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