Overview
Flanging Tool™ and Flangy the Tool™ were developed to create durable tubing flanges through a mechanical forming process. Unlike heat-based flanging methods, these tools produce a flange by physically deforming the tubing material around a support pin.
This approach works exceptionally well with flexible fluoropolymer tubing commonly used in low-pressure fluid transfer applications. However, tubing material selection is critical to avoid damage to the tool and ensure successful flange formation.
Compatible Tubing Materials
Flanging Tool™ products are intended for use with softer polymer tubing materials that can be mechanically deformed without cracking or excessive resistance.
Compatible tubing types include:
- FEP
- ETFE
- PFA
- PTFE
These materials are sufficiently flexible to allow formation of a reliable flange without the application of heat. The resulting flange can provide a secure connection suitable for many laboratory fluid-handling applications.
Why High-Pressure PEEK Tubing Is Not Recommended
High-pressure PEEK tubing is manufactured specifically to withstand the elevated pressures encountered in HPLC and related analytical systems. Because of its rigidity and mechanical strength, PEEK tubing does not deform readily during the flanging process.
Attempting to flange high-pressure PEEK tubing may result in:
- Damage to the Flanging Tool™
- Broken support pins
- Improper flange formation
- Tubing damage
- Reduced tool life
For these reasons, high-pressure PEEK tubing should not be used with Flanging Tool™ products.
PEEK Material Considerations
Although softer grades of PEEK are manufactured for certain specialized applications, these materials are generally not used for HPLC tubing and are not supplied by MICROSOLV.
The PEEK tubing typically used in chromatography systems is intentionally designed to resist deformation and therefore is incompatible with mechanical flanging methods.
Pin Selection Guidelines
Flanging Tool™ kits include pins manufactured from:
- Stainless Steel
- Titanium
- Polymer materials
Selection of the proper pin depends on the tubing being flanged and the mechanical characteristics of the tubing material. For more rigid fluoropolymer tubing, stainless steel or titanium pins are generally preferred because of their strength and durability.
Pin Sizing Recommendations
Proper pin sizing is essential for successful flange formation.
As a general guideline: The pin diameter should always be smaller than the tubing internal diameter (ID).
Example
For:
- 1/16" OD tubing
- 0.75 mm ID PTFE tubing
A 0.5 mm stainless steel pin may be used to create the flange. Proper pin selection helps ensure reliable flange formation while reducing the risk of damage to the tubing.
Best Practices
To maximize tool life and produce consistent flanges:
- Use only compatible tubing materials.
- Select the correct pin size for the tubing ID.
- Use stainless steel or titanium pins when working with stiffer fluoropolymers.
- Avoid attempting to flange high-pressure PEEK tubing.
- Inspect pins periodically for wear or damage.
Following these guidelines helps maintain both tool performance and connection reliability.
Key Takeaways
- Flanging Tool™ products are designed for soft fluoropolymer tubing.
- FEP, ETFE, PFA, and PTFE tubing are suitable materials.
- High-pressure PEEK tubing is too rigid for mechanical flanging.
- Attempting to flange PEEK may damage the tool or break the pin.
- Pin diameter should always be smaller than the tubing internal diameter.
- Stainless steel and titanium pins are recommended for more rigid compatible tubing materials.
- For Flangy the Tool™ Information and Ordering Details, view Flangy the Tool™.
- For Flangy the Tool™ Operating Instructions, view Flangy the Tool™ Operating Manual.