UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF HONED TUBES

Understanding the Basics of Honed Tubes

05 Sep 2024
Understanding the Basics of Honed Tubes


AC HONED TUBE is proud to be one of Africa’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of honed and unhoned tubing and chrome shafting. Our capabilities extend to deep hole drilling, skiving, and burnishing, alongside our finished products plant, which produces a range of specialized components, including peeled and polished bars, induction-hardened bars, ground bars, and chromed bars. With these extensive manufacturing capabilities, we offer virtually limitless solutions for diverse industrial applications.
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Honed tubes play a pivotal role in the precision of engineering and are crucial in many industries. Known for their smooth interior finish and precise dimensional tolerances, honed tubes are essential in various high-demand applications, from hydraulic cylinders to complex aerospace components.

What is a Honed Tube?

A honed tube is a type of smooth bore steel tube used to achieve precise dimensions and a smooth inner surface. The honing process involves an abrasive tool that slightly grinds the inside diameter of metal pipes and tubes. This process not only improves the dimensional accuracy but also enhances the surface finish, making it perfect for applications where a smooth surface and tight tolerances are critical.

The Honing Process

Honing is a machining process that uses abrasive stones or brushes to remove small amounts of material from the interior of the tube. This process can achieve precise geometric tolerances and a smooth surface, which are essential for components in hydraulic systems, where efficient sealing and fluid movement are required. The key characteristics honed tubes offer include:
  • Tight Dimensional Tolerances: Critical for assemblies where precision is key.
  • Smooth Surface Finish: Minimises friction and wear, enhancing the longevity and performance of moving parts.
  • Improved Surface Integrity: Reduces the risk of corrosion and wear, which is vital for tubes used in harsh environments.

Applications of Honed Tubes

Honed tubes are predominantly used in the manufacture of hydraulic cylinders, where they serve as the cylinder barrel. These barrels must withstand high pressure without leaking fluid, making the dimensional accuracy and smooth interior finish of honed tubes indispensable. Beyond hydraulics, honed tubes are also essential in:
  • Pneumatic Cylinders: For similar reasons as hydraulic cylinders, where air instead of fluid is compressed.
  • Engineering Machinery: Such as cranes and forklifts, where precision hydraulic systems are key to reliable operations.
  • Automotive Applications: Particularly in high-precision components like shock absorbers and steering mechanisms.
  • Aerospace Industry: Where every component requires exact specifications for safety and functionality.
Honed tubes represent a key element in advanced manufacturing and engineering. The precision and quality they provide are paramount in applications where safety, efficiency, and reliability are the highest priorities. By choosing the right honed tube for your needs, you ensure the performance and longevity of your machinery and equipment.

Are you in need of high-quality honed tubes with superior precision and reliability? Contact us at AC HONED TUBE, your leading and biggest supplier in Africa of honed and unhoned tubing solutions tailored to meet your exact specifications.