Sylphon

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A sylphon is an old name for a cylindrical symmetry bellows. When made of metal, the sylphon shape was formerly created by metal spinning inside of a metal mold, and now by hydrostatic forming within a mold. Because, the mold therefore contains the "pleats" of the bellows, the mold must be constructed in parts so that it can be disassembled when the forming process is complete. Legendary experimental physicist John Strong makes occasional use of the term sylphon in his famous book Procedures in Experimental Physics.

A sylphon, or bellows, is used, among other purposes, to communicate motion through the wall of a vacuum chamber. It can also be used as a squeeze piston for simple pumps. It can also be used as a flexible coupling to communication rotary motion between shafts.