What this aluminum tube is
This aluminum tube is an extruded 6063 or 6061 round tube, supplied in T6 and other tempers from T3 to T8. The aluminum tube is drawn to a wall of 0.2 mm to 20 mm and cut to lengths up to 12 m, and because it is a round section the aluminum tube is easy to bend, thread and weld.
Where this aluminum tube is used
Buyers order this aluminum tube for structural components: frames and supports, railings and handrails, window and door profiles, display and shelf frames, bicycle and equipment parts, and medical or agricultural fittings. Where the aluminum tube stays outdoors it is normally anodized or powder coated, and where it will be machined or painted further it is supplied mill finished.
How this aluminum tube is made and finished
Billet is extruded and then cold drawn, so the wall and the bore of the aluminum tube stay concentric along the length. The aluminum tube is then cut, punched, decoiled, bent or welded to the drawing, and the surface can be mill finished, anodized or powder coated in a range of colours. Standard to EN, DIN, ASTM, JIS and GB/T is available, with hardness rated hard.
How to choose this aluminum tube
Start with the section and the alloy, because 6061 and 6063 both bend and weld well while higher grades in the 6000 and 7000 series give more strength where a structural component carries load. Then fix the outside diameter and the wall together, since a thin wall in a large diameter can deform where a small section would hold. Finally choose the length and the finish, because the aluminium content of the aluminum tube is 96% or more, and the aluminum tube is quoted on the drawing you send.
What to confirm before you order this aluminum tube
Confirm the alloy and temper, the outside diameter and wall, the length, the tolerance and the finish. Confirm as well whether the ends need threads, holes, slots or a welded joint, because those operations change the price and the lead time as much as the tube itself does. Samples are available so the fit and the finish of the aluminum tube can be checked before a production run starts, and production is quoted at 22 to 30 days after the drawing is agreed.
