Extrusion Molding
Extrusion molding is a manufacturing process used to create continuous, fixed-cross-section profiles from materials like plastics, metals, or ceramics by forcing them through a shaped die. It involves heating raw material to a molten or semi-molten state, then pushing it through an extrusion screw and die to form long shapes such as pipes, tubes, sheets, or rods. This process is highly efficient for mass production of uniform products and is widely used in industries like construction, automotive, and packaging.
Developers should learn about extrusion molding when working in fields involving product design, manufacturing automation, or material science, as it's essential for understanding how components like plastic housings, electrical conduits, or structural elements are produced. It's particularly relevant for those developing CAD/CAM software, industrial control systems, or IoT solutions for manufacturing lines, as knowledge of the process aids in optimizing designs for manufacturability and integrating with production equipment.