Extruding

Purpose:

To provide students with visual impairments the opportunity to explore the process of extrusion used to produce pipes and wires in industry

Background information:

Toothpaste and frostings are examples of extruded materials. Commercially prepared frosting tubes replicate the process of extruding a softened material such as plastic. The material then hardens into a shape determined by the shape of the opening through which it has been extruded. Using tubes of frosting and different frosting tips students can kinesthetically experience how materials such as plastic are formed in a factory.

Materials

Commercially available tubes of frosting
Tips of various shapes
Plate
Tray

Preparation

Before carrying out this activity, as part of a unit on manufacturing processes, the student should examine items produced by extrusion such as wires and pipes.

The students may notice that it is difficult to exert a constant squeezing pressure on the tube.

Procedure

Select a tip to be attached to the frosting tube after the cap of the tube is removed.
Using a constant pressure, squeeze a line of frosting onto a plate.
Place a different tip on the tube and squeeze another line or shape on to the plate.
Try creating shapes such as circles and triangles
Let the shapes dry for at least 25 hours before examining tactually.

Note: The frosting in tubes also makes an excellent “mortar” for holding together materials in small scale construction projects.