Hi all,

I am currently running a feasibility project for my work and I am trying to source some ali tube approx 50mm X 30mm oval with approx 4mm wall thickness. I cant find ANYONE in the UK.

I have tried the obvious googled companies and nobody does it. Its not even a must have size, just something thick walled around them sizes, we are still at early design stage so are very flexable. We need a sample for testing and then will be buying large quantities of around 900M at a time.

Tooling and extruding is out of the question, thats far to much investiment.

So, anyone know of a metal supplier that deals in ali oval tube. This must be people that may help, not just googled search results, I have tried that. Now its time for the LCB orical. Maybe I should of asked here first!!

Come on guys, win me some brownie points at work, I need a pay rise!!!

Thanks in advance,


Happy friday!!

Wayne

What length do you want. Both length of individual item and total length required.

I got all my tubing alloy & steel from suppliers advertising on eBay most of there adverts say any dia length just email etc. Most good prices too.

Only way you'll get what you're after is to find someone who will make up the rollers, and roll it from a standard round tube. That's how all the other true oval, or flat sided oval is made.

Cheers,
Nev.

We are still at early design stages so size is negotiable.

I have spec details to a few companies 50mm X 30mm with a 4mm thickness. Batches of around 500Kg or 500M. Sections of approx 1M but we can cut that here.

I have really started to find that the people that know about ali tubing in the UK just dont sell elliptical oval tube and therefore it is not available.

I have since been told there is potential for companies to extrude lengths especially for me depending on the size. I dont want to pay for tooling, I should not have to as I am very flexible on tube size.

I think rolling from round is out of the question, it is to thick for that and tooling again will be required.

Anybody have ties or work with extrusion companies? What size dies are out there and what costs would I be looking at?

Only quote so far is abot £3 per metre.

Thanks for your help.

[Edited on 2/12/11 by bi22le]

I use to work for an Aluminium stockholder and to be honest i've never come across an oval tube so i think you'll be struggling to find one off the shelf. From memory you would be looking at about £800 for the tooling and you'd be tied down to ordering batches of 250kilo or 500 kilo depending on the mill. Die costs will be refunded but only after you've purchased prob about 7-8 tonnes!

Best bet would be to try someone like Kaye Aluminium or Sapa Aluminium, both are aluminium extruder's. They may already have a die for something similar but then you get in to the issue of it already being owned by a specific company. Kaye's are prob best suited for smaller runs. May also be worth trying Simmal, there probably the best aluminium extrusion stockholder but i'd be very surprised if they had anything off the shelf.

Most stockholders will be happy to sort the production for you but obviously they will want there mark up on the material.

Cheers
Leon

http://www.eltherington.co.uk/

You could try Eltheringtons in Hull
Jacko