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Thin wall tubing doesn’t forgive much. With so little material between the inside and outside diameters, maintaining dimensional accuracy during grinding requires careful attention. That’s why grinding thin wall tubing is its own service. At Precision Ground Bars, we’ve supplied ground metals and grinding services since 1970, and tubing questions reach us from very different corners of manufacturing. Here’s how tube requirements change from medical work to aerospace to general industrial jobs, and where our grinding and finishing services fit in.
How Tubing Requirements Change from Medical to Aerospace to Industrial Work
A medical implant tube, an aerospace component, and a hydraulic cylinder part can all start as tubing, yet each asks for something different in grade, finish, and geometry. Those differences decide which tubing and grinding options are worth discussing before you order.
Why thin wall tubing is its own grinding job
Grinding thin wall tubing calls for specialized machining methods to meet tolerance requirements on complex thin wall parts. Precision Ground Bars offers tube grinding services for straight tubes, irregular tube shapes, and bent tubing. For thin wall parts, the right grinding method depends on the tube geometry and tolerance requirements.
That range matters when your part isn’t a simple straight length. If the geometry is complicated, include those details in your quote request so we can discuss the grinding options.
Medical applications: grade and finish come first
Our stainless steel round tube is used in medical implants and pharmaceutical work. We supply it seamless or welded, in austenitic grades from 304 to 316L, in sizes from 1/16 inch to 12 inch.
Grade choice deserves care in medical work. Grade 304 is used in surgical instruments and medical equipment because of its corrosion resistance and affordability. Grade 316 has a higher nickel content for enhanced corrosion resistance and is used in medical devices that contact bodily fluids, including implants. For those applications, confirm the exact grade and specifications your device requires.
Finish is the other medical decision. Our round tube comes pickled and annealed, mill finish and polished, or bright annealed. Specify the finish along with the grade so both are settled before production starts.
Aerospace applications: heat and high strength alloys
Our aerospace inventory includes materials for hydraulic tubing, along with materials for critical fasteners, springs, and forged wing structures. Inconel is used in demanding high temperature applications, including heat exchanger tubing, and it resists carbonization and oxidation at high temperatures.
Because Inconel work hardens rapidly during machining, mention it early if your part calls for it so we can discuss machining.
Industrial applications: from food processing to hydraulic cylinders
On the industrial side, our stainless steel round tube is used in food processing, chemical and petrochemical work, oil and gas, fertilizer, marine, automotive, power generation, and mechanical and plant engineering.
When the job is mechanical, DOM tubing often comes up. DOM tubing is made by drawing welded tubing over a mandrel, which creates a smooth tube with high strength and dimensional accuracy. Mechanical uses include hydraulic cylinders, bearings, and shafts, and the smooth finish is easy to clean and maintain.
Straightening before grinding
Tube work may need straightening before grinding, depending on its condition and the final dimensional requirements. Our roll straightening services are used for round bars, metal sections, tubing products, and deformed parts. When straightening is necessary, it prepares the material for the finishing operations that follow.
What to specify when you source tubing
A complete tubing request covers a few key items. Tell us whether you need seamless or welded tube, the grade, the size, the finish, and the length. We cut tube to custom sizes for your application. Note whether you need tube centerless grinding or thin wall grinding, and whether the part is straight, irregular, or bent. Our custom packaging helps protect metal products during transport.
Send us your tubing drawing
If you’re sourcing thin wall tubing for a medical, aerospace, or industrial application, send us the drawing and your material requirements, and we’ll talk through the tube grinding and finishing options for your project. We’re in Palos Hills, Illinois, and available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Submit your requirements through our Submit a Quote form, or call (800) 818-0822 toll free or (708) 880-7277 locally.
FAQs
Do you grind thin wall tubing?
Yes. We offer grinding services for thin wall tubing, using specialized methods to meet tolerance requirements. Include your tube geometry and tolerance requirements when requesting a quote.
What stainless steel tube sizes and grades do you supply?
Seamless and welded stainless steel round tube in austenitic grades from 304 to 316L, in sizes from 1/16 inch to 12 inch.
What finishes are available on stainless steel round tube?
Pickled and annealed, mill finish and polished, and bright annealed.
Can you cut tubing to length?
Yes. We cut tube to custom sizes for your preference or application.
