Metal bellows (also called expansion joints) help regulate pressure, vibration, and movement in applications like piping or exhaust systems. Selecting the right metal bellows for your application can be difficult. You’ll need some expertise in the areas to find the right one. Many different industries use metal bellows in different applications such as sealing, temperature, and pressure.
Explore the things you should know before selecting metal bellows.
Reliable Manufacturer
You’ll need to find a manufacturer or expansion joint supplier who’ll have your best interests in mind. They should be knowledgeable in the different manufacturing techniques of bellows such as welding or hydroforming. When you explain your application, they should know what manufacturing technique is best for your specific needs.
For example, welded bellows have seams where hydroformed bellows don’t because they’re made from one sheet of metal. Depending on how you’ll use the bellows in your industry, you might need a bellows that doesn’t have seams.
Material Type
The material the bellows are made from also plays a vital role in its performance. Bellows come in an assortment of metals such as copper, bronze, brass, nickel, and stainless steel. The type of material depends on the purpose of the bellows’s longevity, precision, and temperature. Plus, the manufacturing process you choose will also affect the material choice.
Testing Process
Before deciding on a final product, ensure that the bellows go through testing. A reliable manufacturer will supply testing for their bellows, like hydro testing, liquid penetrant inspection, or x-ray radiographic inspection. A testing phase is necessary to make sure that the bellows you’re selecting will be able to withstand the requirements of your application.
Finding the Right Expansion Joint Supplier
Of all the things you should know before selecting a metal bellows, you need to find an expansion joint supplier you can trust to provide the equipment you need. Contact Triad Bellows to learn more about finding the right bellows for your industrial application.
