Heat shrink joining square and round tubing - GIF

[Altair]

Heat shrink joining square and round tubing.




Previously:

HDPE pipe fusion machine - photo and video
Friction welding drill pipe for oil exploration
Pipe friction welding - GIF
Polyurethane friction welder - GIF

[Frank S]

square to round transition via drink bottle,,,,,,Hummm, could probably do this with gutter down spouts as well .

[desbromilow]

aircraft modellers do a similar trick where they make up a small wooden form of a cockpit window, then shrink the PET bottle over the top to make the "cockpit glass", and then cut out the bottom to release the wooden form.
I've done similar to make ogive transitions for model rocketry.

The only constraint you have is that the PET won't easily shrink to less than the original "cast" diameter. PET bottles are made from blanks which are approximately the diameter of the neck where the lid screws on, so it's difficult for them to shrink less than that.

[Ralphxyz]

How do you center things? Nice idea!

Ralph

[Floradawg]

I didn't know you could shrink that. That's good to know.

[baja]

aircraft modellers do a similar trick where they make up a small wooden form of a cockpit window, then shrink the PET bottle over the top to make the "cockpit glass", and then cut out the bottom to release the wooden form.
I've done similar to make ogive transitions for model rocketry.

The only constraint you have is that the PET won't easily shrink to less than the original "cast" diameter. PET bottles are made from blanks which are approximately the diameter of the neck where the lid screws on, so it's difficult for them to shrink less than that.

I have used liquid yeast for beer brewing and the containers used to be liter soda bottle blanks before they were blown up. Now they sell it in plastic containers somewhat similar to ketchup packets.

[desbromilow]

How do you center things? Nice idea!

Ralph

As long as you are close, and you heat evenly, the surface tension of the shrinking plastic should centre the pieces for you - based on the concepts of equalising forces, and minimised surface area.