The manufacturing process of lamps mainly depends on the selection of raw materials. There are many factors that affect the selection, but the ultimate goal is to produce a product that can achieve the intended use and is inexpensive.
The expected design life of lamps varies with the type of lamp and the use of the lamp. For example, fluorescent lamps with metal housings and control devices have a life of at least ten years if used in normal dry air. The expected life combined with the requirements of mass production and the requirements of national standards are the main factors in the selection of raw materials and processing methods.
1. Metal and surface processing Ordinary indoor fluorescent lamps are generally made of metal sheets to form a certain shape of housing or lamp holder, which is equipped with necessary control settings and parts.
2. Plastics The largest use of plastics is to make milky white diffusers, prismatic dimmers and protective housings. The choice of plastics mainly depends on the required characteristics, the relationship between quantity and cost, and the production process adopted.
3. Glass Due to the development of various plastics for making diffusers and protective covers, glass has been replaced in the structure of fluorescent lamps. Long diffusers and large grids made of plastic are both light and unbreakable.
However, traditional cut glass covers are still widely used in decorative incandescent lamps, and designers still have the opportunity to use this delicate design that cannot be replicated in mass production.
4. Wires When the standard specifications of wires were changed to metric sizes, twisted wires were also changed to single-strand solid wires; the latter are now commonly used for wiring in lamps. The raw material of standard wires is copper, which is often plated with tin or nickel. Nickel-plated wires can improve their anti-oxidation properties when used at high temperatures. At extremely high temperatures, even nickel-plated wires are difficult to prevent oxidation, and pure nickel wires must be used.