Month: October 2012

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PTFE Tubing and PTFE Heat Shrink Tubing Are Different Materials

Some people might confuse PTFE tubing with PTFE heat shrink tubing. However, these are two distinct products. The only similarity between the two is that both materials are made using Teflon. Both are used in situations where you need good electrical insulation or have biocompatibility requirements. But heat shrink Teflon tubing is used when  there is a connection involved, as well as in areas that receive high stresses or high levels of vibrations, for example.

You Need to Know AWG Sizes to Select PTFE Tubing

You will need to be familiar with AWG sizes when selecting PFTE tubing. AWG is the abbreviation for American wire gauge, and is the standardization used for selecting the right type of wiring, based on gauge size. An AWG size can be determined using either millimeters or inches. For example, an AWG size of 10 is the equivalent of 0.1019 inches or 2.588 millimeters. The exact computations needed to convert millimeter or inches to AWG can be complicated. Luckily, there are conversion charts available to provide assistance to select the right AWG size.

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Nylon Mesh Screen Openings Are Often Given in Microns

In order to determine the size of mesh opening you require for your nylon mesh screen, you will need to convert it to microns. Microns are a unit of measure, and are sometimes called micrometers. They are recognized by a symbol that looks like a small letter “u”. Many people use inches to determine the mesh opening. This can easily be converted to microns when you know how to perform some simple computations, or you can use a conversion tool instead.

How to Convert Nylon Mesh Screen Openings from Inches to Microns

To convert nylon mesh screen openings from inches to microns, you start by taking the equivalent of a one inch measurement, which is 25,400 microns. Then, divide the micron amount by the appropriate inch measurement. For example, if you need an opening that is ¼ inches, you would divide 25,400 microns by 4. If you need a 1/8th opening, you divide 25,400 microns by 8. On the other hand, if you need a 1 ½ inch opening, you multiple 25,400 microns by 1.5 inches. We also have a conversion calculator available on our nylon mesh page that will convert microns and inches both ways.

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There Are Different Ways to Secure Stainless Steel Machine Screws

Stainless steel machine screws can be used in multiple ways, depending on where they are being installed. You can use them on their own to fasten together two or more individual pieces. In this situation, the screw hole may or may not already be pre-tapped. Another method is to pass them through an untapped hole, which is slightly larger than the screw. You then secure two or more pieces together, tightening the screw through a nut.

Inches Are Often Used as Lengths for Stainless Steel Machine Screws

The length of stainless steel machine screws is commonly given in inches. This is because most organizations within the United States use the English measurement of units, rather than the Metric system. It is possible to convert metric measurements into inches. You can either use a conversion tool or perform your own calculations, as long as you know whether to multiply or divide.

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Straightened Wire Can Be Customized to Fit With Your Application

There are a variety of different applications and uses for straightened wire. This type of wire can be custom cut to specific lengths to fit in the area you require. It can be used by itself or can be passed through various types of tubing, such as hypodermic tubing or Teflon tubing. Other types of customizations some people require with this wire include bending, wire forming, and cleaning.

Working with Multiple Sizes and Types of Straightened Wire Requires a Storage Solution

It is ideal to have a storage method in place when working with multiple sizes and types of straightened wire. The easiest method is to store each type and size of wire in individual plastic storage tubes. You can label the outside of each tube to include detailed information about the wire, such as its length and diameter. You can also apply bar codes to the storage tubes when you use this type of system for inventory control and management.

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One Type of PTFE Shrink Tubing Has an Inner Layer of FEP Shrink Tubing

In certain situations, you may need a special type of PTFE shrink tubing, which includes an inner layer of FEP shrink tubing. One reason for using this combination type of tubing is to create a solid seal underneath the actual tubing. As heat is applied to the outside layer, the PTFE shrinks, while the FEP layer melts. Once it cools, the FEP layer creates an almost solid encapsulation around the area where it was applied. This helps increase the amount of stresses this area can withstand from pulling, as well as from vibrations.

PTFE Shrink Tubing Requires Following Some Basic Precautions

You need to take some precautions when you are working with PTFE shrink tubing. You should wear heat resistant gloves to protect your hands from the high temperatures required to shrink the tubing. You should also use the appropriate type of heating appliance in order to achieve the temperatures required. After you apply the tubing, you should allow for adequate cooling times in order for the area to return to normal temperatures before operating or using the equipment.

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Woven Nylon Mesh Can Be Used to Speed Up Wound Healing

Woven nylon mesh is used for a variety of applications and purposes. While the most common is for filtration, this type of mesh can also be used in healthcare for medical procedures. The mesh helps provide air to the skin in locations of wounds or incisions from surgical procedures. The mesh helps promote healing, because air is able to get to the skin, rather than having a bandage sitting directly on top of the area, which does not allow sufficient air to reach the affected location.

Avoid Issues by Obtaining Woven Nylon Mesh in the Correct Size

Obtaining the correct size of opening in woven nylon mesh is important. If you get the wrong size, it can cause issues with the applications where it will be used. For example, when the openings are too big, they will allow larger particles to pass through, not remove them, in cases where the mesh is used for filtration. Another case is when the openings are too small, such as when the mesh is used to provide healing, as not enough air will be able to pass through to reach the skin.

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What Do the Ratios Found on Teflon Heat Shrink Tubing Mean?

Teflon heat shrink tubing is available in two different ratios and three different wall sizes. You will find PTFE 2:1 ratio comes in standard wall, thin wall and light wall options, while PTFE 4:1 ratio is available in standard wall. The ratios apply to the preshrunk size, as well as the size the tubing will be, once it has been heated and shrunk. 2:1 ratio implies that the tubing will be about half of the preshrunk size, while 4:1 ratio means it will be one quarter its preshrunk size.

Avoid Shrinkage Problems with Different Wall Sizes of Teflon Heat Shrink Tubing

The thing to remember about ratios is that they are only as accurate as the type of material where they are being used. That means, if the size of the wiring or cable is larger than the shrunk size of the tubing, it will not fully shrink down. One way to avoid this issue is to consider using a different wall size. Thin and light walls have larger diameters, which may resolve your problems when you cannot get the tubing to fully shrink down.

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Hypodermic Tubing Is Used to Make Blunt Needles

Blunt needles are often made from stainless steel hypodermic tubing. Finishing processes used on the needles result in a blunt tip, rather than a sharp tip. Once the needles have been cut to the desired length and size, they are attached to a plastic or polypropylene hub. After it is fully attached, the resulting product is a needle assembly. This assembly can be easily attached to syringes and removed, whenever it is possible to reuse the syringes.

Can Blunt Needles Be Used More than Once?

Blunt needles should not be reused in healthcare settings. Once they have been used, they should be disposed of properly. Reusing them can result in the transfer of bodily fluids, as well as increase the risks for exposures to certain types of illnesses and diseases. In other industries, like manufacturing, the needles can be reused, as long as they are used with the same type of liquid material, such as an adhesive.

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Hypodermic Tubing Is Available in Bulk Quantities

There are different ways in which you can obtain hypodermic tubing. It is available in bulk in thirty inch and sixty inch lengths. Some businesses prefer to obtain it in this manner, and then cut it to their specifications. For example, the tubing can be used along with straightened wire to make wire guide assemblies. These assemblies can vary in length, depending on the finished product, and may have more than one in different sizes.

Other Options for Obtaining Hypodermic Tubing

Another option for obtaining hypodermic tubing is to have it precut to your desired lengths. This method is ideal for companies which may not have the proper cutting tools needed to cut the tubing, without smashing the ends closed. A third option is to purchase it in lab kits, which is where the tubing is part of a needle assembly. Lab kits provide the benefit of having access to a variety of different sizes of tubing.

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Use a Larger Inner Diameter of Thin Wall Stainless Tubing to Solve Flow Rate Issues

Thin wall stainless tubing is designed to allow for a faster flow rate of fluids. However, you can still experience issues with getting the correct flow rates. One possible solution is to consider getting a different size of the tubing. By moving to a size with a larger inner diameter, you may be able to resolve your problem without having to use an extra thin wall solution.

You Can Order Thin Wall Stainless Tubing by Gauge or Inner Diameter Dimensions

Some people get inner diameter sizes and gauge sizes easily confused. They assume as the gauge size increases, so does the inner diameter. However, this is a mistake, which various people can make. Actually, as the gauges increase, the inner diameters decrease in size. Luckily, you can choose tubing based on either the gauge size or inner diameters, so when you know one, you do not have to worry about the other.