Wall Thickness Control for Plastic Tubing Extrusion

The regulator supplies a precise, stable pressure of internal air into the extruded tube during free extrusion. By holding that pressure at an exact set point — even with varying flow rates — it controls the diameter and wall thickness of the tubing. OLC's MicroAir units achieve this with hysteresis-free, viscostatic-damped regulating action for unmatched stability.

OLC's MicroAir regulators cover a wide range from 0–3 inches of water (ultra-low) up to 0–5 psi, with intermediate options including 0–5", 0–10", 0–15", and 0–30" of water. Each unit can be configured to the specific range required for your tubing application, and range change service is available.

MicroAir I is a manual-control model using a 30-turn fine adjustment knob, ideal for stable processes without automation. MicroAir II adds contact closure inputs for integration with diameter gauges or external controllers. MicroAir IV uses a 0–10V analog input for high-speed PLC control, making it suited for bump, taper, and highly automated extrusion lines.

Yes. OLC offers 3-channel and 4-channel MultiAir configurations specifically designed for multi-lumen tubing. Each channel independently controls a separate lumen with its own pressure range, display, and output option, providing precise and isolated air pressure regulation for each lumen in a single stainless steel enclosure.

The MicroAir IV series responds in less than 0.1 second — typically around 20 milliseconds for a 50% full-scale step change. This high-speed response enables it to handle bump and taper tubing applications where rapid pressure switching is critical, and it can connect directly to a PLC via a 0–10V analog input.

Yes. All MicroAir units are CE compliant and accept 110/220 VAC 50/60Hz dual-selectable voltage input, making them suitable for extrusion lines worldwide. OLC ships via UPS, DHL, and FedEx to 18+ countries including Germany, Japan, China, India, France, and South Korea, and all units come with unlimited phone support.