Custom machined part
PTFE & plastic bellows
- Construction
- Machined from solid
- Inside diameter
- 0.5" to 12"
- Convolutions
- 1 to 20+
- Tooling
- No mold needed
Thin-walled convoluted bellows CNC machined from solid PTFE and other plastics. Made to your drawing or from your old bellows, from one prototype to production runs.
- ±0.002"–±0.005" on critical dimensions
- Family owned in Aurora since 1986
- Expedited service for breakdowns
What defines a bellows
Shaped by how it moves
A bellows is described by how it moves, not just how big it is. Its wall is the moving part and, often, the barrier too.
- Free length
- At rest Its length with no load, as made.
- Compressed
- Shortest The shortest it runs at in service.
- Extended
- Longest The longest it runs at in service.
- Stroke
- Extended − compressed The total movement the bellows has to take.
- DIAGRAM: bellows compressing and extending along its axis
Axial
Compresses and extends along its length. The most common duty.
- DIAGRAM: bellows with ends offset sideways, still parallel
Lateral
One end offsets sideways while the ends stay parallel.
- DIAGRAM: bellows bending, one end tilted
Angular
Bends so one end tilts relative to the other.
And its duty
Combined motion is common.
- Cycling
- How often it moves, and over what stroke.
- Held positions
- How long it sits compressed or extended.
- Pressure or vacuum
- How much, and on which side of the wall.
For a quote
Shape, ends and service
With the lengths and motion above, these details define your bellows.
- Shape
-
- ID and OD
- Space available
- Number of convolutions
- Depth and pitch
- Wall, if drawn
- Ends
-
- Flanged, threaded or plain
- Mounting
- Mating parts
- Service
-
- Media and concentration
- Temperature
- Cleaning or sterilizing
- Purity requirement
Getting a quote
Start with what you have
Any one of these is enough to get a quote started. Pick yours to see what helps.
Send the drawing and we machine to it.
- Lengths and stroke
- Plastic, if specified
- Quantity
Upload drawings, CAD files or photos on the quote form.
Send the old bellows and we’ll work from it.
- Which dimensions are intact
- Whether it’s taken a set
- What it seals and how it moves
Upload drawings, CAD files or photos on the quote form.
Send what you know. We’ll ask for the rest.
- Stroke and type of motion
- ID, OD and the space available
- End connections
Upload drawings, CAD files or photos on the quote form.
Plastics for bellows
PTFE and other plastics for bellows
PTFE is the usual choice. If your drawing doesn’t specify a plastic, we’ll suggest one with your quote. These are the common ones; we machine most engineering plastics.
Most common
PTFE
The usual choice for machined bellows: chemically resistant, and flexible enough for a thin convoluted wall.
Filled PTFE grades are considered case by case, because fillers change how a thin wall flexes.
About PTFEMachined in Aurora
How your bellows are made
±0.002"–
±0.005"
On critical dimensions, depending on the plastic. Specs and CAD files are kept, so a reorder matches the last batch.
-
Cut from solid, no mold
Convolutions CNC turned from solid stock, so a prototype or a one-off replacement carries no tooling cost. On a thin wall, we watch wall consistency and tool access closely.
CNC turning -
Ends machined in
Flanged, threaded or plain ends machined as part of the bellows, to match your mating parts.
-
Assembled and ready to fit
Metal flanges, threaded fittings or hardware fitted before shipping, so there’s no second supplier.
Evaluating a supplier? See the shop and how we check the work.
Where machined bellows are used
Buyer questions
Bellows FAQs
Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.
Convoluted bellows machined from solid PTFE and other plastics, used to seal moving connections in pumps, valves, instruments and chemical equipment. Each is cut from solid stock, so there’s no mold tooling and a single prototype costs no more to set up than a production run. If yours is built differently, send the drawing or a photo and we’ll quote it.
We can reverse engineer it from the sample. A used bellows may be cracked or permanently set, so the original geometry and performance can’t be promised.
No. The design stays with you or your equipment maker. Send the drawing or specification with the stroke, pressure and service, and we’ll machine to it.
We hold ±0.002" to ±0.005" on critical dimensions, depending on the plastic. We review your drawing and confirm the critical dimensions with your quote.
Timing depends on the bellows, plastic and quantity, and comes with your quote. For an emergency breakdown, ask about our expedited service.
Not a bellows?
Find the right part
We machine almost any plastic part. If yours isn’t listed, describe it in a quote request.
Standard quote
Ready to send your bellows details?
Experienced help from your first quote to the finished part.