Views: 1 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-08-15 Origin: Site
Learn about the different construction types of stainless steel instrument tubes, focusing on the difference between seamless and welded.
Welded tubes are made by rolling a stainless steel strip into a tube and then welding it along its entire length. After welding, the weld or bead can be refined by cold rolling and forging methods, or it can be left as it is. Cold forming results in smoother surfaces and smaller tolerances. Welded tubes can even be drawn like seamless tubes to provide a better weld and surface finish. Welded tubes can also produce thinner walls on large diameter tubes compared to seamless tubes. Because welded tubes require less processing, they are usually produced faster and at lower cost than seamless tubes.
Commonly used welding methods are TIG welding, MIG/MAG welding, gas welding, buried welding, manual welding. When welding, it is necessary to consider the influence of factors such as the material, thickness, welding position and quality requirements of the stainless steel pipe on the welding method. It is often necessary to use a variety of welding methods according to the comprehensive situation to achieve the best results.
advantage
Better delivery time
Tighter tolerances
Reduce cost
Thinner wall, large diameter applications
Longer lengths are available
More consistent concentricity
shortcoming
Thick wall application
Minor impurity
Poor corrosion resistance
Stress concentration
To manufacture seamless tubes, the first step is to form seamless tubes, that is, hollow tubes/female tubes. Starting with a solid round blank, the blank is first drilled, then heated and forced through a narrow die. In this process, the center of the hollow tube is supported by a long rod (called a mandrel). Next, place the master tube into the Pilger mill. The machine uses a pair of rolling dies and a second mandrel to lengthen and reduce the size of the tube. This process rapidly reduces the cross-sectional area of the pipeline by up to 90% in a single run. However, the Pilger hot rolling process is not suitable for small diameter pipes. For small diameter pipes, drawing is a better choice. In this process, the female tube is crimped so as to grasp one end and then pulled out through a narrowing die. By doing so, the tube Narrows and elongates. The process may need to be repeated several times to achieve the desired size reduction.
Seamless tubing can withstand higher pressures because it does not have the same large stress concentration points as welded tubing. In addition, seamless tubing usually has a higher surface finish, which means it is less susceptible to pitting and corrosion. However, making seamless tubes requires more steps. Because of this, seamless tubes take longer to produce and are more expensive than welded tubes.
advantage
Excellent corrosion resistance
Higher stress levels
durability
Higher purity
No additional testing required
Ideal for critical applications
shortcoming
Higher cost
Not suitable for thin-walled large diameter tubes
High manufacturing difficulty
Long production cycle
Stainless steel pipes have become an indispensable part of all walks of life because of their excellent performance and versatility. For more than four years, JingChangSheng has been supplying high quality stainless steel to various industries around the world. JingChangSheng has become synonymous with precision, reliability and innovation. To view our products or talk to our experts, please contact JingChangSheng today.
