Best alloy of aluminum tube for forming

ConstantWave · Aug 21, 2017

I need some aluminum tubing of about 1 inch OD (not critical)and about 1/8" wall thickness (also not critical) that can withstand having the ends smashed shut for welding onto an aluminum angle frame. The frame is made from 5052 sheet that is readily available but none of my normal suppliers seem to have anything but 6061 in tubing that size. We did this job in the past with 6061 and the results were far to much cracking in the smashed area. Any material ideas or suppliers welcome. Not my design or I could eliminate the flat ends.

brianweldor · Aug 21, 2017

You could anneal/overage the ends with a torch and smash them flat. The welding operation will bring the material out of the T6 condition anyway, but it's going to be impractical as the quantities increase. If you are ordering a bunch of material, try Yarde Metals . 6063 would work well also. You aren't using 4043 to weld this, right?

ConstantWave · Aug 21, 2017

Thanks brianweldor. This job is cut and bend only for a local weld shop so I am not sure how he is welding it but he is generally competent. I will try annealing since quantities this time are low.

Fabworks · Aug 21, 2017

Ditto on the 6063. I use 6063 T52 all the time and it bends and welds nicely.

petersen · Aug 21, 2017

We addressed that same set of problems several years ago.

Tried every kind of tube we could find warehoused.

Bought 3/4" aluminum RIGID CONDUIT at electrical supply house.

Problem solved

Fabworks · Aug 21, 2017

petersen said:
We addressed that same set of problems several years ago.

Tried every kind of tube we could find warehoused.

Bought 3/4" aluminum RIGID CONDUIT at electrical supply house.

Problem solved

Wheatland Tube aluminum rigid conduit is 6063 T1

http://www.wheatland.com/images/electrical-conduit/Rigid_Aluminum_Conduit_Brochure_Feb2016.pdf

garyhlucas · Aug 21, 2017

petersen said:
We addressed that same set of problems several years ago.

Tried every kind of tube we could find warehoused.

Bought 3/4" aluminum RIGID CONDUIT at electrical supply house.

Problem solved

Of course, electricians bend!

ConstantWave · Aug 22, 2017

I will keep the conduit in mind for next time. Material ordered already so hopefully the annealing works out.

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Best alloy of aluminum tube for forming

ConstantWave

Aluminum

brianweldor

Cast Iron

ConstantWave

Aluminum

Fabworks

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petersen

Cast Iron

Fabworks

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garyhlucas

Stainless

ConstantWave

Aluminum

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