“Tube” or “Pipe”
Although some may use the terms “tube” and “pipe” interchangeably, there are actually some distinct differences between them you should be aware of before you place a materials order. The specific type of product you order will impact your final application, so it’s imperative you have a complete understanding of the differences and what your requirements are before you buy.
Tube & Pipe Manufacturing Differences
There are a few main differences between tube and pipe manufacturing and design you should be aware of so you can select the right product for your project.
Differences Between Tube & Pipe Include:
- Tube: can be round, square, and rectangle shaped
- Pipe: is only round
- Tube: can be hot rolled or cold rolled
- Pipe: can only be hot rolled
- Tube: can be telescoped
- Pipe: cannot be telescoped
- Pipe: is more readily available in larger diameters
- Pipe: is more rigid compared to tube and requires specialized tools to bend
- Tube: often goes through more rigorous testing and inspection
Many differences between tube and pipe concern how the product is manufactured; however, the differences go deeper than that and extend to application, classification, and tolerances as well.
Tube & Pipe Classification Differences
Pipe is measured in Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) which is a nominal diameter, which loosely relates to the outside diameter, and schedule, which corresponds to the wall thickness.
Tube is measured most commonly by the outside diameter and the wall thickness, but can also be measured with the inside diameter and wall thickness or the outside diameter and inside diameter.
Tubing has tighter tolerances and standards than pipe. Pipe is commonly used for applications of larger size where consistent pressure is required and tubing is ideal for smaller sized applications. Since tubing is commonly used in structural and mechanical applications where strength and stability are essential, the wall thickness and outside diameter are the most important measurements. Because pipe is regularly used to transport liquid media and gas, capacity size is most important.
Before you make a purchase for your next project, you need to know the differences between tube and pipe. While they can be similar, each type has specific characteristics that make it ideal for certain applications.
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