Why are umbrellas made out of Metal Rods? Shouldn’t they be made out of skinny PVC Pipe or something?
In: Engineering
There are several reasons but most easily to say:
Tradition – Wooden and metal umbrellas have traditionally been the materials of choice in use for the umbrella shaft and skeleton.
Weight vs. Strength – Metal can be made thinner, lighter and stronger than pvc and it is more versatile than plastics are. As ubiquitous as plastic can be, plastics are stronger in bulk and become weak and brittle when made in a very thin form. Metals are able to handle much more strain with less material.
Cost – Metals are generally cheaper than plastics at the size and form needed to make umbrella shafts and skeletons.
manufacturing process – Making the tiny pieces takes time, and the process to make equivalent parts out of plastic with the above considerations doesn’t work very well and goes against a smooth process.
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