CUSTOM TORSION TUBES FOR ICE DRILLING EQUIPMENT


APPLICATION:

Scientific. This customer utilizes torsion tubes for ice drilling equipment. The previous product was dull-colored and often lost in the snow. The new tubing had to be highly visible without interrupting its functionality.

SOLUTION

Rock West was able to come up with an innovative solution using bright orange pigment in the epoxy resin resulting in neon-orange coloring for the tube. We designed custom filament wound fiberglass tubing and utilized a wet winding process where fiberglass tow is passed through a resin bath and wrapped around the tool in an automated, precisely controlled fashion using one of our multi-spindle filament winders. The fibers are wound using an alternating +/- 35 degree fiber angle for exceptional torsional strength. We added bright orange pigment to the resin bath to create the neon-orange coloring in the part. Now the tubes are strong, lightweight and easily visible under any conditions!

Image of industrial machinery. Technician is pouring orange pigment to a resin bath. Fiberglass tow is threaded through the machinery, where it will be dipped in the colored resin in preparation for filament winding.
Factory interior with filament winding machinery. Wet, orange fiberglass tow is being wound onto a mandrel.
Six orange fiberglass filament wound tubes wrapped with cellophane for transport. Tubes are laying on a grey cart.
Two scientists in the snow with ice drilling equipment, preparing to drill into the snowpack beneath them. The orange tubing is visible on lower half of the equipment.