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I'm looking to make a project out of aluminum square tubing (and I will have it welded locally). When I look at various websites, it seems everyone offers a different wall thickness (and different decimal measurements as well). I'd like to have 1 1/4" go into 1 1/2", and that go into 1 3/4" (or I 1/2" into 1 3/4" into 2"). Some list the 11 guage wall thickness as .125" and others list it as .120" - not sure if these will nest or not. Is aluminum sq tubing in these sizes that will nest into each other? Thanks.
Reply:Bummer - I was hoping someone here could help me with this.
Reply:Probably this got lost in the shuffle some. Also the fact you are using alum vs steel will limt the number of guys who are familiar with whats out there. When I need to figure out something like this, I usually go to my supplier and phyically look at the materials if possible. The one guy I usually deal with for alum is pretty good about letting you look and measure if he's not swamped that day.How tight a tolerance you need will be key here also. I general. 1 1/4" OD square usually fits inside 1 1/2" 11ga (.120) square. 1/8" wall 1 1/2" square is usually too tight a fit. You also have to look at corner profiles and seams especially with steel.One thing thats often done is to tack a few "shims" ( a small bead on the center of each side filed to fit would work) to the end of the internal tube and weld a collar on the external one so you get a good fit without having to get exact fit tubing. If this was for a production item, I'd get the collars either cut on a CNC plasma/ waterjet or have them machined from short pieces of heavy walled tube..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I do not know what you are making but some things about aluminum come to mind. If you do not have it anodized and the fit is fairly tight it will gall and it will corrode between the tight slide area. Running a little looser fit and spacing with Teflon or nylon Buttons will save you a lot of headaches. Mac
Reply:Originally Posted by Tool MakerI do not know what you are making but some things about aluminum come to mind. If you do not have it anodized and the fit is fairly tight it will gall and it will corrode between the tight slide area. Running a little looser fit and spacing with Teflon or nylon Buttons will save you a lot of headaches. Mac |
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