Aluminum Square Tubing

admin

I have a project I am working on and I an using 1" x 1/8  aluminum square tubing. One part of my project requires the 1" tubing to slide into a slightly larger tubing. I have some 1 1/4 x 1/8 aluminum tubing but it is to small to allow the 1" tubing to slide into it without a lot of filing.Is there a tubing that can ask for at a metal supplier that would allow 1" tubing to slide into it with a good fit?MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:I pulled this off one of the online places I get metals... (www.speedymetals.com)Important Information about Telescoping Tube and Pipe:It's common for our customers to purchase tubing or pipe with the intention of telescoping these tubes or pipes. Please take the time to read the following information. This information will help you make the best selection for your application. More importantly, it will prevent you from wasting precious time and money. When selecting tubes for telescopic applications it is important to select sizes that are slightly larger or smaller than the outside diameter or inside diameter you are planning to telescope. As a general rule of thumb, we do not guarantee that the tubes or pipes that you order will in fact telescope. The only way to guarantee someone that the tubes that you order will telescope is to take the tubes and physically telescope them into one another. Though we would like to be able to offer this type of service it is not cost effective. Keep in mind, while DOM Steel Tubing doesn’t have a weld on the inside of the tube because the weld flash was removed, virtually every other tube or pipe will have a weld on the inside of the tubing. This weld will prohibit you from tightly telescoping one tube into another. When telescoping DOM Steel Tubing plan to allow at least .010 between the OD (outer diameter) and ID (inner diameter) that you intend to telescope. However, this still WON’T GUARANTEE that your tubes will telescope. Tubing has OD (outside diameter) and ID (inside diameter) tolerances; these tolerances tend to run larger on OD’s (outer diameters) and smaller on ID’s (inside diameters). So, even if you allow .010, your tube still may not telescope. The moral of the story is that there is absolutely no way to guarantee your tubes will telescope. I would highly suggest being as liberal as possible when selecting tubes that you intend to telescope and take into consideration that some type of craftsmanship may be required. This craftsmanship may be simple as sanding the OD (outer diameter) or as difficult as machining your tube on a lathe or mill. For tube tolerances; refer to the “Speedy Metals Product Library” link located within each product category as well as our home page.
Reply:Try this: http://www.mcmaster.com/#telescoping-tubing/=6ud9rb
Reply:Thanks for the responses.MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:The info on steel tubing may be somewhat misleading in this application- most aluminum square tubing will not have a weld bead on the inside like steel because they are EXTRUDED  (pushed through a square die to shape them).Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by AquafireThe info on steel tubing may be somewhat misleading in this application- most aluminum square tubing will not have a weld bead on the inside like steel because they are EXTRUDED  (pushed through a square die to shape them).
Reply:This was / is my first aluminum project. An Aluminum Folding Goat Milking Stand, My wife likes to 'show' goats and the stand is used when she travels to different shows. The stand is also used to groom goats before the shows. I have several more to build for her friends so hopefully now that I have my design down and I have a whole hourof aluminum welding experience the others will build quicker.I ended up using 1 1/4 inch tubing (1/8" thick) and filed the inside out for the sleve over the 1 inch tubing. A lot of tedious work but I am happpy with the fit.   MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:Hey Kaos,Where I worked, we used a lot of sq aluminum & the company always bought what was classified as "architectural" grade tube. It had all sharp inside/outside corners without any radius. It was very nice to make telescoping items with it. We had both 1.5" & 1.250" & I made several nice rifle field rests with it. Nice stuff...... & expensive.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Nice looking work there...   How did you make the triangular notches? Do you have a mill or did you just plasma-cut or saw them rough and file them perfect?Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by AquafireNice looking work there...   How did you make the triangular notches? Do you have a mill or did you just plasma-cut or saw them rough and file them perfect?
Reply:Kaos--here's a link to pics I posted on telescoping tubing with UHMW liner:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=41224Blackbird