Since 2003, A.E.D. METAL PRODUCTS has been supplying a custom streamline and oval tube product that really sets us apart from the traditional streamline tubing.
How’s it different? The traditional 4130 streamline is produced by a cold drawn process in short random lengths (typically ranging between 10 and 17 feet), whereas our High Performance streamline is produced by a roll form process, in which round tubes are sent through a progressive series of rollers and dies. While the cold draw can produce streamline faster and in large quantities, our machines produce a more consistent and repeatable shape. Our roll forming process is consistent and gentle operation with fixed tooling. The dies used in the cold drawing process are not fixed and are redressed to produce different sizes, meaning less consistency from batch to batch. This process also has a greater variable in tolerance, so it’s not uncommon for traditional streamline tube to have a bow to them yielding a product that is not always very straight.
Our roll form process also allows more wall thickness selections as the streamline tubes maintain the same wall thickness as the parent round tube. Additionally, we can make our “homebrew” in other materials besides 4130. We have successfully produced these shapes in mild steel (ERW and DOM), Docol® Tube R8, aluminum, stainless steel, and CP grades of titanium.
In 2013, we brought the machinery in-house, allowing A.E.D. to supply this material even faster than before. Since then, Jason Russell, one of our fabricators, spent many hours perfecting the manufacturing process. In the beginning, we could produce a maximum length of 12 feet of material Jason made modifications to the machines and built special guides that allow us to form full lengths with some minor adjustments in straightness. Under Jason’s lead, we have been able to improve the roll form process as well as the quality of Streamline and Oval Tubing.
We have the ability to bypass high minimum orders and long lead times that are typical of the traditional 4130 streamline. As long the required round tube is available, we can produce as little as 6 feet of finished product with a very short turnaround time.
We have the ability to bypass high minimum orders and long lead times that are typical of the traditional 4130 streamline. As long the required round tube is available, we can produce as little as 6 feet of finished product with a very short turnaround time.
A.E.D. has been producing High Performance Streamline and Oval Tubing in house for a little over 5 years. The streamline tubing produced by A.E.D. is different then “Traditional Streamline”.
Traditional streamline is produced by a cold drawn process where as our High Performance streamline is produced by a roll form process. Though the cold drawn process can produce streamline faster and in large quantities our roll forming process produces a more consistent and repeatable shape. This is due to our roll form process being a gentile consistent operation with fixed tooling. The dies used in the cold dawning process are not fixed and are redressed to make different sizes meaning there is not much consistency from batch to batch. The cold drawn process also has a greater variable in tolerance. The roll form process also allows us more choices in the wall thickness as the streamline tubes maintains the same wall thickness as the parent round tube.
Since we’ve acquired the tooling, Jason our “Fabricator”, has spent many hours perfecting process. In the beginning we were only able to produce a maximum length of 12’ of material. Jason has since made adjustments to the machines and built special guides that allows us to roll up full lengths of steel, aluminum, stainless or titanium tubing that only needs small adjustments, if any at all, in straightness. Under Jason’s lead, we have been able to improve the roll form process as well as the quality of Streamline and Oval Tubing.
Streamline and Oval Tube can be produced in the following materials:
- 4130 Chrome Moly
- Docol® Tube R8
- Stainless Steel
- Mild Steel
- 6061-T6
- Titanium*
*Please email or call to discuss your titanium roll form needs with our Sales Manager, Dave Gordon at 317-334-0569 or dave@aedmotorsport.com