At Holscot, we have partnered with a medical client to engineer a bespoke FEP flanged tubing solution specifically designed to meet their unique requirements. The project involved developing tubing with a specialised flange on one end and an exact 30° cut on the other. Given its critical role in medical delivery systems, the component had to conform to extremely tight tolerances, presenting a significant technical challenge.
Project Specifications
Our client’s detailed specifications for the custom fluoroplastic tubing included:
- Material: FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene)
- Dimensions: Inner Diameter (ID) of 1.30mm and Outer Diameter (OD) of 1.60mm
- Wall Thickness: 0.15mm, a critical aspect for maintaining tubing integrity
- Flange Specifications:
- Diameter: 2.80mm at one end of the tube
- Tolerance: ±0.05mm on flange diameter
- Radius: Maximum of 0.20mm
- Flange Thickness: 0.15mm, crucial for the application
- End Cut: A precise 30° angle at the opposite end of the tube
FEP was chosen for this project because of its excellent thermoforming properties, allowing for the creation of complex profiles like the required flange. Additionally, FEP’s transparency was vital for the medical application, ensuring clear visibility through the tubing.
Overcoming Challenges
One of the most significant challenges we encountered was forming a large-diameter flange on such a small and thin-walled tube while maintaining the necessary flange thickness. It was essential to avoid thinning the tube along the flange, which could lead to issues like pinholes, stress cracks, or irregularities.
The project’s success hinged on adhering to the stringent tolerances for flange diameter, radius, and tube thickness. Any deformation could have compromised the flow rate in the medical application, making precision absolutely critical.
Using our in-house custom tooling and advanced thermoforming techniques, Holscot was able to meet the client’s exacting specifications. We successfully controlled the flange thickness and produced a consistent and reliable tubing profile.
Flanging Fluoroplastics at Holscot
At Holscot, our expertise in flanging fluoroplastic tubing allows us to manufacture components tailored to your precise requirements, ready for assembly. Flanges can be used to secure fittings, enhance sealing, or create collars that prevent parts from disengaging from equipment. Tapered tips can also be designed to optimise liquid flow.
Our custom flanging solutions are ideal for applications in liquid and air delivery, laboratory and analytical equipment, as well as food and chemical industries. We work with a variety of fluoroplastics, including PTFE, FEP, and PFA, and can produce flanges, collars, and tips to your exact specifications.
At Holscot, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative fluoroplastic solutions for even the most technical applications. We recognise that every customer’s project is unique, and our dedicated customer service and R&D teams are ready to collaborate with you to bring your project to life.
