What This Extruded Round Tube Is
A round extruded aluminum tube is a hollow circular section produced by pushing heated aluminium alloy through a ring shaped die, so the wall is formed in one piece and the outside stays round along the length. This tube is made from 7075 and 2024 aluminium alloy in the T6 temper, two of the stronger heat treatable alloys, and it is anodized so that a hard oxide layer forms on the round surface and gives the finish its anti scratch and anti corrosion behaviour. Wall thickness can be specified from 0.2 mm to 20 mm and lengths from 1 m to 12 m, all made to customized dimensions.
Where It Is Used
The round section is used where a tube has to roll, slide, rotate or carry a fluid or a cable. Typical work includes machine shafts and rollers, handrails and grab bars, bicycle and motorcycle parts, display and furniture frames, medical trolley and bed tubes, agricultural and irrigation frames, and decorative trim. Where a part is visible the anodized round surface is often left unpainted, and where a part is structural the higher strength of 7075 and 2024 is used to keep the wall thin.
How to Choose the Right Tube
Choose the outer diameter and wall thickness together, because on a round tube these two numbers set both the weight per metre and how much the tube resists bending and crushing. A thin wall suits light frames and decorative work, while a thicker wall is needed where the tube carries a load or is clamped. Choose the alloy next. 7075 is the stronger of the two and is used for highly stressed parts, while 2024 gives excellent fatigue behaviour and is common in transport work; both are heat treatable and are supplied here in the T6 temper. Tempers from T3 to T8 are available, and the 6000 and 7000 series can also be supplied. Decide the fabrication before ordering, since bending, welding, punching, decoiling and cutting are offered, and the order of anodizing and forming has to be planned. Finish is the last choice: mill finished, anodized or powder coated.
What to Confirm Before Ordering
Before ordering, confirm the outside diameter, the wall thickness, the length and the number of pieces, because these decide whether the tube fits the bore or the clamp it will sit in. Confirm the alloy and temper, since 7075 and 2024 are chosen for different reasons and behave differently when welded. Confirm which secondary operations are required, bending, welding, punching or cutting, and where they sit in the process. Confirm the finish and the anodized colour, including whether the coating has to survive a bend. The tube is supplied against the EN, DIN, ASTM, JIS and GB/T standards listed for the material, with a tolerance of plus or minus 10 percent on the specified dimensions.
