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Short / Everyday engineering
The pull tab moves the slider, but the slider's hidden channel does the guiding. Follow two rows of zipper elements as they join and separate.
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A zipper combines fabric tapes, fastening elements and a movable slider. Inside the slider is a Y-shaped passage. Moving it in the closing direction guides the two rows of elements together so their shaped surfaces interlock.
Moving the slider in the opening direction guides the joined elements apart into the two branches of the passage. The fit depends on the geometry of both slider and elements. Metal, moulded-plastic and coil zippers use different element constructions, so an enlarged tooth model is an illustration rather than a universal tooth shape.
It gives your hand a way to move the slider. The slider's internal shape guides the fastening elements.
No. Zippers also use moulded plastic elements or a continuous coil construction.
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