The key thing to remember when it comes to tube expansion is that in order to expand the end of a tube to a larger diameter, additional material is needed. This has to come from somewhere and the end result of the process is that the wall thickness and the length will shrink to allow it. It is important to take this into account when basic tubing is being manufactured to ensure there is enough excess material to facilitate expansion and avoid creating flaws in the finished tubes.

It is wise to keep in mind that adapting the diameter of a tube at one end by an expansion ratio of 16% will reduce the thickness by approximately 6.67% and the length by around 4.4%. If you increase the ratio to 20% the reductions will be around 10.3% and 5.7% respectively. When a ratio of 24% is required the wall thickness will fall by an estimated 13.16% and the length will shrink by 6.2%.

Planning for shrinkage is important, and calculations need to be done very carefully to ensure the expansion can be completed with the right wall thickness and length. At Multiform Tubes we have a great deal of experience in the tubing sector and can provide a comprehensive expansion service.

We work with a range of different metals and expand them to all kinds of ratios, without ever compromising the strength or quality of the tube. Whatever project you have in mind we are confident we can provide accurate bespoke tubes to suit your needs.

In order to meet the needs of our clients we have invested in both modern machinery and traditional skills to create a quality service all round. We also have stringent controls in place to ensure that every piece of tubing is checked to make sure there are no flaws. You won’t find a better service or higher quality products than ours.