Manufacturing Process of Neon Signs
Popularly known for its effectively promoting the business, neon signs are widely used worldwide of either small or medium enterprise. Like the Neon Open Sign that catches attention of passerby. Yet, the only question is how neon signs are made?
Neon signs are made from a lead glass-tube filled with inert gases and neon. This neon produces a reddish-orange when used in discharged tube, neon lamps or advertising sign. The gas glow when the electric current enters the tube. But before this happen, the glass-tube is bended by molting it using burners specifically made for glass-tube. This burners varies in styles and function such as ribbon, cannon or crossfire. The ribbon burner is a strip of fire that makes a slow bending on the tube while the crossfire makes a sharp bend on the tube.
Inside the tube is coated with phosphorescent powder. The tube is filled with the mixture of purified gas and the gas ionized by a high voltage on the end tubes where cold cathodes are welded. Neon produces a reddish-orange glow however; other colors are produced by argon and mercury added to the tube right after purification. After the cathodes are sealed inside the tube, the tube is attached to a neon sign transformer or switching power supply. This make the tube glow with lights.
Neon signs also play tricks in our eyes. For those who had no idea about hoe this thing is made, neon sign is a constant formation of glass-tube unlike what we saw on the signs. The thing that makes the letters or shapes separate is the blocking process which sometimes painted or dipped in blockout paint usually the back portion of the sign. Moreover, neon signs are manually crafted by workers known as glass benders.
This is carefully done so as to avoid repetition since the glass tube cannot be fixed once bended.
