How to Choose a FlexiTube™ Size (Practical Guidance)
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Plan your path & slack
Measure the straight‑line routing distance between components and choose a fully‑extended length that covers it with minimal extra slack. Over‑extending the coil reduces its ability to absorb vibration; excessive slack can add unnecessary volume. -
Mind the resting vs. extended coil diameters
The resting coil drives how compact the loop is in tight spaces; the extended coil indicates the space a partially stretched coil may occupy during installation or service. Choose a type that fits your instrument bay clearances in both conditions. -
Account for extra‑column volume
Longer coils increase total tubing length. If your method is sensitive to dispersion, prefer the shortest feasible fully‑extended length and the appropriate internal diameter (select on the ordering page), balancing pressure drop and dispersion. -
Serviceability & strain relief
Coils provide strain relief when moving modules or opening covers. Pick a type that avoids sharp bends when doors are closed and that maintains gentle radii when opened for maintenance.
Typical Use Cases
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Instrument-to-detector or pump-to-mixer jumpers where tidy routing and movement tolerance (door swings, module slides) are needed.
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Method development bays that frequently change plumbing; coils let you re‑route without cutting new tubing each time.
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Portable or vibration‑prone setups, where the spring effect reduces tugging forces on fittings.
Best Practices
- Do not over‑stretch beyond the published fully‑extended length; this can permanently deform the coil geometry.
- Maintain correct tubing ID for the application to balance pressure and dispersion (specified on the item ordering pages referenced from the KB).
- Keep coils away from hot surfaces and ensure no panel edges abrade the outer surface during open/close cycles.
Ordering information for each type of FlexiTube can be found on the ordering information page, under each individual item.
| Type | Coil resting position | Coil extended position | Coil quantity | FlexiTube length fully extended | Total length of tubing |
| 2 | 10 mm | 30 mm | 4 | 330 mm | 710 mm |
| 3 | 20 mm | 120 mm | 9 | 420 mm | 945 mm |
| 4 | 35 mm | 200 mm | 15 | 500 mm | 1225 mm |
| 5 | 50 mm | 300 mm | 23 | 600 mm | 1585 mm |
| 6 | 100 mm | 400 mm | 46 | 700 mm | 2060 mm |
| 7 | 150 mm | 500 mm | 69 | 900 mm | 3150 mm |
| 8 | 170 mm | 8000 mm | 78 | 1100 mm | 4710 mm |
| 9 | 225 mm | 1100 mm | 104 | 1400 mm | 6100 mm |
| 10 | 250 mm | 1300 mm | 116 | 1600 mm | 6930 mm |