Rib vs. Flange — What's the Difference?

A thin, raised strip of material added to an object to increase its strength.

An edge that extends from an object to add strength or stability.

An internal feature in casting or molding for structural support.

A projecting flat rim or collar used for attachment.

A reinforcing element in structures or components.

Features designed to handle specific loads, such as tension or compression.

Used to minimize material and reduce weight without sacrificing performance.

Used in various mechanical parts for alignment or assembly.

Designed to improve the flow of material during the molding process.

A method to connect pipes, valves, and other equipment.

In vertebrate anatomy, ribs (Latin: costae) are the long curved bones which form the rib cage, part of the axial skeleton. In most tetrapods, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity.

A flange is a protruded ridge, lip or rim, either external or internal, that serves to increase strength (as the flange of an iron beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam); for easy attachment/transfer of contact force with another object (as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc., or on the lens mount of a camera); or for stabilizing and guiding the movements of a machine or its parts (as the inside flange of a rail car or tram wheel, which keep the wheels from running off the rails). The term "flange" is also used for a kind of tool used to form flanges.

One of a series of long curved bones occurring in 12 pairs in humans and extending from the spine to or toward the sternum.

A protruding rim, edge, rib, or collar, as on a wheel or a pipe shaft, used to strengthen an object, hold it in place, or attach it to another object.

A similar bone in most vertebrates.

A wide edge on a pillow, placemat, or other fabric object, especially a piece of fabric or ribbon extending from the outer seam.

A part or piece similar to a rib and serving to shape or support

An external or internal rib or rim, used either to add strength or to hold something in place.

A cut of meat enclosing one or more rib bones.

The projecting edge of a rigid or semi-rigid component.

(Nautical) One of many curved members attached to a boat or ship's keel and extending upward and outward to form the framework of the hull.

(RPG) An ability in a role-playing game which is not commonly available, overpowered or arbitrarily imposed by the referees.

One of many transverse pieces that provide an airplane wing with shape and strength.

The vulva.

(Architecture) A long, narrow, usually arched member projecting from the surface of a structure, especially such a member separating the webs of a vault.

The collective noun for a group of baboons.

A raised ridge or wale in knitted material or in cloth.

The electronic sound distortion produced by a flanger.

(Botany) The main vein or any of the prominent veins of a leaf or other plant organ.

(intransitive) To be bent into a flange.

(Slang) A teasing remark or action; a joke.

To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange; to bend (esp. sheet metal) in the form of a flange.

To shape, support, or provide with a rib or ribs.

To mix two copies of together, one delayed by a very short, slowly varying time.

To make with ridges or raised markings.

An external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange of an iron beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a car wheel (see Car wheel.); or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc.

(Informal) To tease or make fun of

A plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe.

(anatomy) Any of a series of long curved bones occurring in 12 pairs in humans and other animals and extending from the spine to or toward the sternum.

To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange.

(by extension) A part or piece, similar to a rib, and serving to shape or support something.

To be bent into a flange.

A cut of meat enclosing one or more rib bones.

A projection used for strength or for attaching to another object

(nautical) Any of several curved members attached to a ship's keel and extending upward and outward to form the framework of the hull.

(aeronautics) Any of several transverse pieces that provide an aircraft wing with shape and strength.

(architectural element) A long, narrow, usually arched member projecting from the surface of a structure, especially such a member separating the webs of a vault

(knitting) A raised ridge in knitted material or in cloth.

(botany) The main, or any of the prominent veins of a leaf.

A teasing joke.

A single strand of hair.

A stalk of celery.

A wife or woman.

(botany) Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale).

(botany) Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita).

(botany) Watercress (Nasturtium officinale).

To shape, support, or provide something with a rib or ribs.

To tease or make fun of someone in a good-natured way.

To enclose, as if with ribs, and protect; to shut in.

(transitive) To leave strips of undisturbed ground between the furrows in ploughing (land).

One of the curved bones attached to the vertebral column and supporting the lateral walls of the thorax.

That which resembles a rib in form or use.

The chief nerve, or one of the chief nerves, of a leaf.

In Gothic vaulting, one of the primary members of the vault. These are strong arches, meeting and crossing one another, dividing the whole space into triangles, which are then filled by vaulted construction of lighter material. Hence, an imitation of one of these in wood, plaster, or the like.

Solid coal on the side of a gallery; solid ore in a vein.

A wife; - in allusion to Eve, as made out of Adam's rib.

To furnish with ribs; to form with rising lines and channels; as, to rib cloth.

To inclose, as with ribs, and protect; to shut in.

Support resembling the rib of an animal

Any of the 12 pairs of curved arches of bone extending from the spine to or toward the sternum in humans (and similar bones in most vertebrates)

Cut of meat including one or more ribs

A teasing remark

A riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant

A projecting molding on the underside of a vault or ceiling; may be ornamental or structural

Form vertical ribs by knitting;

Subject to laughter or ridicule;

Ribs can complicate the mold design for a part, potentially increasing the cost, but they result in lighter, stronger parts by enhancing material distribution.

Designing ribs involves considering factors like thickness, location, and orientation to avoid stress concentrations and ensure even material flow.

Flanges can be made from a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites, depending on the application and the required strength.

A rib is a thin, raised strip of material that is added to an object to increase its structural strength and stiffness, often used in plastic injection molding and metal casting.

A flange is used to provide attachment points, enhance the strength or stability of an object, or ensure alignment between different parts.

In some designs, ribs can improve the aesthetic appeal by adding texture or patterns to the product, although this is not their primary function.

A rib is a reinforcing feature typically found within a part or structure to add strength without much weight, while a beam is a structural element that primarily resists loads applied laterally to the beam's axis.

While ribs are typically internal and not visible from the outside of a product, there are designs where ribs may also play an aesthetic role.

Yes, flanges can add weight to a product due to the additional material required for their construction.

Yes, a part can have both ribs and flanges, each serving different purposes such as internal reinforcement and external connections.

While flanges are commonly used in piping systems for connections, they are also used in various other applications requiring mechanical attachment or alignment.

Ribs can increase the complexity and cost of mold design, but reduce overall material usage, while flanges may increase material costs but simplify assembly and maintenance procedures.

Flanges are crucial in industrial applications for creating secure, leak-proof connections between pipes, valves, and other components, facilitating easy assembly and maintenance.

Yes, the design of a flange, including its size, shape, and material, directly affects its functionality, strength, and compatibility with other parts.

Ribs contribute to product durability by increasing the structural integrity of parts, making them more resistant to bending, twisting, and breaking.