METHOD FOR FORMING A CELLULAR CORE MEMBER

摘要

A plurality of thermoplastic tubular segments having substantially equal lengths are arranged in horizontal side-by-side relationship with the respective ends of the tubular segments aligned in a generally common plane. Small portions of the respective ends of the tubes are cut by a thermal cutting device which simultaneously fuses the ends of the tubes to produce a consolidated unitary structure having a thickness defined by the distance between the fused ends of the tubular segments. The consolidated unitary structure i s then rotated to a horizontal position, with the tubular segments vertically oriented, and cut along at least one horizontal plane to produce fused cores having a thickness defined by the vertical position of a horizontally disposed therma l cutting device. Cutting consolidated unitary structures of thermoplastic tubular segments along horizontal planes, while the consolidated unitary structure is dispose d horizontally, avoids the manufacturing and material handling problems previously associated with vertical cutting of consolidated unitary structures.