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Band, Cartridge and Strip Heaters Element Construction Mechanical Construction
Band heaters area also very versatile. Different options for clamping or attachment can be used, different fittings can be attached, leads can be any length and protected by different materials, watts and volts can be changed to provide exact heating requirements and balance, holes can be cut to allow for thermocouples or fasteners. Band heaters are usually cylindrical, but can be square, conical, and less than 360 Deg circumference. The heater design is almost unlimited. Strip heaters are straight band heaters. Finned strip heaters are popular for heating airstreams. Sealed strip heaters are used in harsh environments. Most strip heaters are used for platten heating. Like cartridge and band heaters, strip heater elements can be constructed in different ways to achieve different results.
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Band
heaters and cartridge heaters are generally manufactured in two different
configurations. These configurations are called different names by
different manufacturers: MI Bands®, Better Bands®, mica
bands, high temperature, standard construction, are all types of construction
and indicate how a heater will perform. The basic
difference involves the watt density capabilities on the heater. Heaters
capable of generating higher watt densities generally are constructed from
better or more materials, may have a different style of winding the element, and
are usually more expensive.
Cartridge heaters are some of the most versatile heaters made. Sheaths
can be sealed, flanges added, thermocouples installed, bushings and couplings
installed, non-stick coatings applied, plugs and different types of lead
protection added - all are available. Finned cartridge heaters are
available for heating fluids or gases. Different watt densities (called
distributed wattage or zoned wattage) can be placed on different sections of the
heater creating a heat profile.