In hydraulic systems, your choice of products is vital. Hoses and tubes are two common options for transferring fluid. Each one comes with its own characteristics and appropriate scenarios. We want to analyse the pros and cons of both here. Also, we intend to look at the performance and applications. This will help you to make the right choice for your project. Then, you can talk to us if you choose tubing and need services like tube drilling and end forming.
Features and advantages
Firstly, hydraulic tubes tend to be made of steel alloys. They have high strength and pressure resistance. So, they are ideal for high pressure set ups. With durability, the steel’s ensure the tubes offer long service lives. They also have impressive stability, capable of maintaining a consistent performance in both low and high temperature environments.
As for hydraulic hoses, they are normally rubber, nylon, or other synthetic materials. Generally, they are made in layers, sometimes including wire, to ensure strength and durability. Most importantly, they have flexibility. You can twist and bend the hoses, allowing them to adapt to complex designs. Installation is also easy, and generally you won’t need specialist tools. There’s the shock absorption effect as well; hydraulic hoses are able to absorb vibrations and lower noise when equipment operates.
Disadvantages
With hydraulic tubes, installation can be tricky. You need professional techniques, including tube drilling and bending, and the right tools here. The bending and connection process tends to be complex. There’s a lack of flexibly too. Then there’s the weight. This could increase your equipment’s overall weight, affecting fuel consumption and performance.
For hydraulic hose, it has limited pressure resistance. Compare to tubing, the resistance is generally lower. Another con is the short service life. Hoses are vulnerable to ageing in harsh settings and come with a relatively short service life. Lastly, there’s the cost. Due to their high manufacturing costs, hoses are relatively expensive.
Application comparisons
Hydraulic tubes tend to be used in fixed hydraulic systems. Think equipment and huge machinery on industrial production lines. Here, the pressure resistance and high strength of the tube can guarantee the system’s stable operation.
Then there are hydraulic hoses. They are best for equipment that needs moving regularly or any that comes with relative motion. Examples would be aerospace equipment and automotive braking systems. In these applications, the shock absorption and flexibility of the hoses can guarantee the normal operation of your system.
Which to choose?
Finally, we’ll go over some suggestions for choosing between the pair. Firstly, always focus on the application scenario. If you have a fixed hydraulic system, it may have high requirements for stability and pressure resistance. Here, you’d be better off with tubes. For hydraulic systems that have relative motion, hoses would work better.
Consider maintenance and cost too. Those on a budget will want tubes because their cost is relatively low. The installation and maintenance of hoses is relatively easy, so there can be savings here. If your maintenance team has limited resources, the shorter life of hoses may be an issue.
Lastly, you need to choose according to environmental conditions. For high or low temperature settings, hydraulic tubes can preserve a stable performance. Consider this if you need your equipment in places with extreme temperatures. In harsh environments, hydraulic hoses have great shock absorption and corrosion resistance. If you need your gear in these settings, hydraulic hoses can be the wise choice.
Tube drilling experts
At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we have years of experience to draw on. Because of this, we can offer expert customer care and the finest services. We have the ability to work with different kinds of tubing, including various types of steel and more.
Tube drilling is one of our most dynamic services. Clients can rely on us to drill holes effectively in the exact positions. It makes assembly and installation much easier. So, if you’d like to know more, feel free to speak to us.