The process of mandrel forming is both labor intensive and unique. The process begins with the material being extruded to a specified outside and inside diameter and then cut to a specific length. Through a process called "sticking", the tubes are then placed, or pushed, onto a mandrel in the shape of the finished part.
For large volume applications, a rack of mandrels is built onto a cart. Once the tubes have been "stuck", the cart is then moved into the autoclave for curing. After curing, the parts are pulled from the mandrels. In most cases the parts are moved to a washing machine of sorts to rid them of release agents and other material used during the process. After washing the parts the ends are trimmed to length using a chop saw.
