A ram extruder is wire-making machinery that applies PTFE insulation over a conductor by forcing molded PTFE powder through a die under pressure and heat.
A ram extruder is a specialized machine used to apply PTFE insulation over a conductor, a process that differs from the continuous extrusion used for many thermoplastics. A predetermined amount of cylindrically molded PTFE powder is placed in a cylinder chamber, and a ram driven by a jack screw is pushed through the cylinder, forcing the PTFE through an orifice or tip. As the conductor moves through the tip, the PTFE forms a homogeneous tube of insulation around it.
This method is necessary because PTFE does not melt and flow like ordinary thermoplastics, so it must be compacted and shaped under pressure and heat rather than melted and continuously extruded. The ram extrusion process produces the uniform, high-quality PTFE insulation that demanding applications require.
In commercial and industrial wire, the ram extrusion process underlies the production of PTFE-insulated cable used in high-temperature and high-performance applications. Recognizing the process helps in understanding how this premier insulation is applied.
Because PTFE cannot be melted and continuously extruded like ordinary thermoplastics, the ram extrusion process compacts and shapes it under pressure and heat, producing the uniform, high-quality PTFE insulation that demanding high-temperature applications require.
At Windy City Wire, an awareness of manufacturing processes such as ram extrusion reflects a focus on the methods that produce high-performance insulation. Understanding how PTFE insulation is formed helps illustrate the considerations behind the demanding cable constructions that rely on it.