What do I need to consider with hydraulic steel tubing?

Tube expansionSeamless precision hydraulic steel tubing has to be constructed using high quality metal. It will ensure it is strong, durable, and long lasting. As a result, it will be more suited for machine tools and agricultural machinery. With services like tube expansion, it is easier to customise the tubing to suit the end use.

These tubes are suitable for all kinds of applications. Examples include high pressure assemblies and metal fittings. However, they must have the right properties. This includes consistency, formability, and strength. With such attributes, you can use the tube in places where low alloy, high strength tubing is important.

When using hydraulic steel tubing for your applications, there are certain factors to consider. What you need to look at are the size of the tube, the temperature the material can withstand, application used, media, and pressure. We’re going to discuss them here so you know what to think about.

Sizes

With size, we’re talking about the tube’s outer diameter and wall thickness. The latter can impose certain restrictions. For example, there is a maximum wall limit on some flare type fittings. As for flare-less bite type fittings, they come with a minimum wall limitation. The size is dictated by the service environment, flow pressure, and system temperature too.

Temperature

Your tube needs to withstand the environment’s temperature. However, the capacity to endure it comes down to certain details. They include protective coatings/plating, seal material, and material type. If you find yourself needing tube expansion, make sure you talk to us.

Application

Here you need to think about how you will use the tube and the system environment. This is characterised by external conditions, mechanical load, vibration, and pressure spikes. All the factors here influence the material selection. This includes whether you will have to use protective plating/coating or not.

Media

This is the kind of fluid or liquid that you will move from one locale to another through the tubes. It influences the kind of tubing used, seal material included.

Pressure

The final point relates to the environment where your hydraulic steel will work. The fitting’s dynamic pressure must be equal to or greater than the system pressure. You’d use a design factor to rate many kinds of system pressure.

With there being so many factors, it is not easy to keep track of them all at once. This is especially true if you are someone new to the world of hydraulic tubes and fittings. For this reason, it is recommended that you work with professionals. With their aid, you will be able to get your hands on the right steel tubing.

Come to us for help with tube expansion and more

At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we are able to provide a selection of reliable solutions for tubing. This includes end forming as well as bending. With them, we can help clients to use tube for various applications in many industries.

We do tube expansion using multiple methods. Firstly is ram forming, which uses a tapered, dedicated die that works as a mould. With it, it is possible to create set diameters for certain tubes. The second approach uses a hydraulic operated expanding die. It is one that allows for more flexibility here.

So, if you want to find out more, feel free to speak to us.