We build plastic industry thermocouples utilizing industry standard hardware typically used in the plastics and molding industry. The most common industry standard hardware types are bayonet, compression, melt, and nozzle. All plastic industry thermocouples use a probe containing the sensor and specific junction type. The fundamental difference is the connecting hardware that is used to provide the connection method or mechanical placement point for the thermocouple probe and assembly. For example, a compression type is used to mount the thermocouple sheath/probe using a threaded fitting that can be attached by screwing in the threaded portion (body) of the fitting. The tube might be inserted into the fitting and attached using a ferrule (seal/gasket) and cap to secure by tightening the cap thus “compressing” the ferrule on the tube. The bayonet type uses a special type of fitting that provides the mechanical attachment for the thermal probe. The bayonet fitting is cap style with a special locking arrangement making it very easy to attach. Most plastic industry thermocouple types will still need some way of wiring to the temperature controller or sensor. This is can be accomplished by using extension cable. Extension cable can be short, only inches long, to very long - 100 feet. At the end of the extension cable, most have some style of termination to make it easy to plug it into the controller.

Plastic industry thermocouple assemblies are the sheath, commonly referred to as the probe (consisting of the protective tube, thermocouple element and transition) connected to an extension cable and connector or end termination. Essentially, the assembly is a turn-key unit used to make contact with the item being measured which is in direct contact with the temperature sensing portion of the thermocouple assembly whereby the signal is brought to a controller. The thermocouple assembly for the plastics industry has evolved into a couple of categories differentiated by the connection fittings or mechanical attachments used with the assembly. The most commonly used types are adjustable bayonet, adjustable nozzle, immersion-melt, nozzle-melt, and spade type. However, you can find any variation to the plastic industry thermocouple assembly because applications and equipment are changing requiring the assembly to change to the mechanical constraints or needs to fit the latest technology innovations. Another important attribute of the plastic industry thermocouple assembly is the calibration type of the thermocouple element. The most common calibration type of thermocouple element is the ANSI J or K. The type J sensor element is derived from Iron and Constantan metal compositions. The type K sensor element is derived from Chromel and Alumel metal compositions. One other significant characteristic of the plastic industry type thermocouple is the protective tube containing the thermocouple element. By far the most popular material for the probe is stainless steel. It is available in several variations, but is 304, 310 and 316 are the standard for protective tube material.