Aluminum
From Contesting
Contents |
Seamless drawn tubing 6061-T6 alloy
Properties:[1]
- Yield strength: 35 kpsi, 241 MPa.
- Density: 0.098 lb/in3
American system
Sizes
The following sizes are commonly used in antenna construction up to 3in outside diameter.
| wall thickness [in] | outside diameters [in] |
|---|---|
| 0.058 | 0.375 0.500 0.625 0.750 0.875 1.000 1.125 1.250 1.375 1.500 1.625 1.750 1.875 2.000 |
| 0.120 | 0.500 Other diameters less frequently available. |
| 0.125 | 0.750 1.000 1.125 1.250 1.500 1.625 1.750 2.000 2.250 2.500 2.750 3.000 |
| 0.188 | 1.000 1.250 1.500 1.750 2.000 2.500 2.750 3.000 |
| 0.250 | 1.250 1.500 1.625 1.750 2.000 2.250 2.500 2.750 3.000 |
| 0.375 | 1.500 1.750 2.000 2.250 2.500 2.750 3.000 |
| 0.500 | 2.000 2.250 2.500 2.750 3.000 |
More comprehensive information is here:
Tolerances
Typical dimensional tolerances vary depending on supplier. Drawn seamless tubing has much more accurate dimensions than extruded tubing. Typical drawn seamless tubing dimensional tolerances:
- outside diameter: ±0.005 in[2]
- wall thickness maximum deviation:[3]
- 0.010-0.035 wall: ±0.002 in
- 0.036-0.049 wall: ±0.003 in
- 0.050-0.083 wall: ±0.004 in
- 0.084-0.120 wall: ±0.006 in
- 0.121-0.203 wall: ±0.008 in
- 0.204-0.300 wall: ±0.012 in
- 0.301-0.375 wall: ±0.020 in
- 0.375-0.500 wall: ±0.030 in
Sources of aluminum tubing
USA
Texas Towers carries commonly used sizes of tubing with an .058" wall for telescoping, in 6 and 12-foot lengths. They offer 6063-T32 and 6061-T6 alloys; the former is only about 60 percent as expensive. The 6-foot lengths are UPS shippable, while the 12-foot lengths will require motor freight.
Online Metals offers an extensive stock of round and square tubing in a wide variety of sizes and wall thicknesses, all in 6061-T6. Their prices are about 20 percent higher than Texas Towers, as of August 2009.
California (SF Bay area)
Alco Iron & Metal, 1091 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA (510)562-1107 (near Oakland airport) Wide variety of metal products, including aluminum tubing. I bought a 20' piece of 2" tube, reasonably thick-walled for a mast, for $75. [4]
Massachusetts
Marmon-Keystone in Southampton. Off Rt 10. They are a major supplier. Their location just doesn't fit with their size. I believe the minimum order is $250. I have picked up there several times (without an 18 wheeler). [5]
Alphabetical index to other pages
References
- ↑ Alcoa data sheet
- ↑ OnLineMetals.Com 2009 Aug 29
- ↑ TubeWed 2009 Aug 29
- ↑ Dave, NE5EE 9/20/09 e-mail
- ↑ Jim W1EQO 2009 Mar 11 YCCC email reflector
