hexagonal steel or aluminum tube

[allegro]

Does anyone know of a UK supplier of hexagonal tubing. I'm looking for something around 32-35mm across the flats. Thanks all.

[MyM2006]

Capalex would do hex ali extrusion, would be a minimum order for production or perhaps they could advise of a stockist they supply.

[allegro]

Thanks for that, good to know but alas they only do hex solid bar

[MyM2006]

The bars that say hollow next to them are tube, I know it's a weird way to say tube. I don't know if its' a constant wall thickness or just a round hole through the centre.

[andy43]

Ali express do loads of weird shaped tubing and bar but they’re not UK based.

[GliderRider]

AliExpress do a 32mm outside, 23mm inside hexagon steel tube.

If those lengths are too short or you are buying in production quantities, then Alibaba is the place to go.

If it is for production, then swaging a round tube might be the answer if a thin wall is acceptable. swaging is pulling a form tool though the tube, or pulling the tube through a die, which gradually distorts the tube from round to hexagon. Annealling between stages may be required if the swaging is not done in one step.

The same size tube, but from Italy: 32mm x 23mm x1M steel Hex tube

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 2nd September 11:17

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 2nd September 13:57

[biggiles]

How long a piece do you need?

If it's a very short length (e.g. 2 inches) then you can easily get metric connectors e.g. "M20 connector nut" or studding nuts, with a hollow threaded centre. Would that help?

[Tye Green]

must it be hex inside?

depending upon lengths, if you just need hex on the outside then put it in a lathe and drill the middle

[allegro]

Thanks all. they need to be between 125 -150mm long and the inner bore doesn't necessarily need to be hex. I did think about removing a core from a solid bar but I only need a wall of 2-3mm so it's a lot of waste on what is a fairly pricey lump of metal. I need to keep any machining costs to a bare minimum as the final product is for a limited market and has a ceiling price that is fairly low
no economies of scale to be had so an off the peg hex tube would be the only option really. It seems I'm constantly coming up with ideas that get thwarted because components in my head don't actually exist

[hidetheelephants]

Any clue what it's for, or are you jealously guarding your IP lest it make you the next Jeffy or Elon?

[GliderRider]

Without knowing the quantity, either buying ready made hex tube off the shelf from China or investing in a tool that could do this swaging process over a greater length seem to be the options if machining is to be avoided. A hydraulic press would give the necessary tool travel, avoidng the cost of a machine such as that in the video.

[CubanPete]

Google gives loads of sources...?

https://kimetals.co.uk/materials/aluminium/alumini...

[GliderRider]

CubanPete said:

Google gives loads of sources...?

https://kimetals.co.uk/materials/aluminium/alumini...

The OP specified tube not bar.

[GAjon]

Get on to a gazebo manufacturer, see if they’ll sell you an off cut.

[allegro]

Thats not the worse idea in the world!! Though i suspect the grade of Ali may be quite poor?
Never would have expected it to be so hard to find. Alas the Capalex company mentioned above got back to me this morning and said they no longer have the die for the gauge of tube i need :/