Telescoping Aluminum Tubing with UHMW

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Outer-1.5" Square, .120 wall, sharp corner aluminum tubeseparator/bearing stock UHMW shape from McMaster-Carr (and others), available up to 6', as I recallInner-1.00" Square, .120 wall, sharp corner aluminum tubeThese stock parts assemble and slide nicely without any rework.Side play is maybe .020-.030Pictured below are sample items from jobs that used this.UHMW is self-lubricating, stands temp's. up to about 200˚ F.The liner can be used with radiused edge tubing--if care is taken on radius andwall thickness selection of the metal tubing. There's a limited number of other liner sizes available, as well-for those withsome imagination.http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272683817http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272683831 Attached ImagesBlackbird
Reply:very cool!  what are you building?
Reply:Do you attach the liner to the inner or outer tube somehow?  Or just hope it stays put?My name's not Jim....
Reply:Good to know there are options to slip fit applications. Aluminum against aluminum is horrible. "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:oxy moron---The aluminum tubing was part of a production washing fixturefor cleaning window blinds. I've got pics of this, just can't find themat the moment.Boostinjdm  asked; Do you attach the liner to the inner or outer tube somehow? Or just hope it stays put? The liner is retained by tabs or stops, as the case may be, to keep it located.It has rounded corners that tend to grip the sharp aluminum corners, so it doesn't tend to slipon the 1" square tubing.      The outer 1.5" tube, moves easily over this.Blackbird
Reply:This is an example of using UHMW liner as a wear surface over steel tubing.The open side of the liner can clear a tube weld seam (if it's in that position).This assembly holds pressure hoses inside the rear doors of a carpet cleaning trailer.The open side of the liner, allows for detent/stop holes for the slide blocks holdingthe pressure hoses to rest in, while the hangers can be pushed out of the wayeasily and slid down the tube. The bungee loops are pulled around the chain loopsto retain the pressure hose. (These trailers see lots of bumping and bouncingon rough Cal. roads and highways. Everything inside will be slammed around,if not bungee'd, clamped or fastened in place.)      This type of assembly has been in service four years. Parts are powder coated,hardware is all SS. An inner frame of SS Unistrut, covers 3 inside walls of the trailer.The Unistrut is connected by tightly bolted channel pieces to create a fairly rigid frame.This frame is then cross-bolted thru the steel roof members, then thru-bolted in the floorof Linex coated, Wells Cargo trailers. Sheet metal screws into the wall beams only serveto locate the struts. Fastening directly to the walls will rip out the innerwall of the trailer and the trailer skin. It's a design concept that lasts.http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272693341http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272693379http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272693429http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272693444http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1272693461 Attached ImagesBlackbird
Reply:I'm working on a telescoping camera jib crane right now. I may try this route for the second one.Thanks
Reply:Dave,Thanks for the post.I like that but I cannot find it on the http://www.mcmaster.com/ website.Do you happen to have a part number?MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:Originally Posted by KaosDave,Thanks for the post.I like that but I cannot find it on the http://www.mcmaster.com/ website.Do you happen to have a part number?
Reply:that's slick as snot.   That UHMW is pretty damn tough stuff.   My Murray lowbed had about 12 Square inches of that stuff that would  support 60,000lbs on the 16 tires at the rear.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.