Precision aluminum tube

Aluminum tube：

Aluminum tube is a hollow, long, tubular material made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, which is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and has good thermal and electrical conductivity.

Definition:

Aluminum tubes are hollow cylinders (or other cross-sectional shapes) made by extrusion, drawing or welding, etc. The main components are pure aluminum (such as 1060, 1100) or aluminum alloys (such as 6061, 6063, 3003, etc.), which are widely used in the fields of industry, construction and transportation.

Classified by material:

1.Pure aluminum tube: strong corrosion resistance, but lower strength (such as 1060, 1100).

2.Aluminum alloy tube: Strength is enhanced by adding copper, magnesium, manganese and other elements (e.g. 6061-T6, 2024).

Classified by process:

1.Seamless Aluminum Tube: formed by extrusion or drawing, with no welded seams and high pressure-bearing capacity.

2.Welded Aluminum Tubes: welded from rolled and crimped aluminum sheet, low cost, suitable for low pressure scenarios.

Classification by shape:

Round tube, square tube, rectangular tube, shaped tube, etc.

Characteristics:

1.Lightweight: density is about 2.7 g/cm³, 1/3 of steel.

2.Corrosion resistance: Surface easily forms an oxide film, which can be further enhanced by anodizing.

3.Thermal/electrical conductivity: Suitable for heat exchangers, electrical components.

4.Machinability: Easy to cut, bend, and weld.

Applications:

1.Industrial: refrigeration equipment (condenser tubes), petrochemical piping.

2.Construction: window and door frames, curtain wall supports.

3.Transportation: automotive exhaust pipes, aerospace components.

Precision aluminum tube：

Precision aluminum tubes are aluminum tubes made through high-precision processes (such as cold drawing, precision extrusion or CNC machining), featuring small dimensional tolerances (usually within ±0.05mm), high surface finish (Ra≤0.8μm), stable mechanical properties, etc., and are widely used in fields with high requirements for precision and reliability. The following are the main application scenarios：

1. Electronics and semiconductor industry

①Thermal components: for high power LEDs, chip heat sinks (e.g. heat pipes), 5G base station cooling systems, utilizing aluminum's light weight and high thermal conductivity.

②Vacuum chamber: vacuum piping in semiconductor equipment, requiring high air tightness and corrosion resistance (commonly used 6061 or 6063 aluminum alloy).

③Precision structural components: optical instrument holders, laser housings, requiring low deformation and high dimensional stability.

2. Automotive and new energy

①Battery system: cooling tubes (e.g. square aluminum tubes) for battery packs of new energy vehicles, resistant to electrolyte corrosion (commonly used 3003 or 5052 alloy).

②Fuel system: high-pressure fuel delivery pipes, which need to be resistant to internal pressure and leak-free (by anodizing the inner wall).

③Sensor housings: Protective sleeves for oxygen or pressure sensors, with precise internal diameters to ensure signal accuracy.

3. Medical and optical equipment

①Medical equipment: respirator tubing, endoscopic cannulae, requiring sterility and no heavy metal precipitation (commonly used medical grade 5052 or 6061).

②Optical barrels: camera lenses, microscope barrels, anodized to achieve a matte surface to reduce reflective interference.

4. Industrial automation and machinery

①Pneumatic components: cylinder tubes, precision guide shafts, need to be smooth inside to reduce friction (tolerance control in ± 0.02mm).

②Hydraulic systems: lightweight hydraulic tubes, instead of steel tubes to reduce weight (T6 heat treatment is required to increase strength).

③Robot components: robotic arm joint axis tube, taking into account the lightweight and rigidity (such as 7075 aluminum alloy).

5. Aerospace and Military

①Aircraft fuel/air lines: Aircraft fuel lines and hydraulic lines, which need to be certified to AMS or MIL standards (e.g., 2024-T4 high-tensile alloy).

②Missile casings: some tactical missile casings are made of ultra-thin precision aluminum tubes (formed by spinning process).