7 Reasons To Consider Composite Rods and Tubes for Your Project

Composite Rods and Tubes

Composite rods and tubes are revolutionizing how engineers and designers approach construction projects. These advanced materials are gaining popularity thanks to their advantages over traditional alternatives like metal, plastic, or fiberglass. They also boast exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, unparalleled durability, and excellent resistance to corrosive substances and chemicals.

The customizable nature of composite rods and tubes allows them to meet specific performance requirements, making them a versatile option for various projects. Furthermore, here are seven compelling reasons why composite materials should be at the top of your list for your next project:

1. Exceptional Strength

Composites combine two or more materials with different physical and chemical properties to create a new material with enhanced features. The unique material combination allows composite tubes and rods to have a superior strength-to weight ratio. This means they can support greater loads without adding excessive weight to the structure.

2. Lighter Weight Than Traditional Materials

Composite materials are lighter than their traditional counterparts, such as metal or concrete. The weight reduction is primarily due to the material’s structure, which consists of lightweight fibers or particles embedded in a matrix material. Moreover, their ability to reduce structural weight while maintaining strength makes them popular for applications where weight reduction is crucial.

3. Resistance to Environmental Changes

Composite rods and tubes can withstand various environmental changes without significant deterioration. This is due to their chemical and physical properties, which resist ecological factors such as moisture, heat, cold, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

These properties make them ideal for outdoor applications or humid environments. Similarly, they can maintain structural integrity in extreme temperatures, which is common in aerospace or industrial manufacturing applications.

4. Various Size Options

Composite tubes and rods are typically offered with lengths ranging from inches to feet and diameters ranging from millimeters to inches. This variability allows for greater flexibility in the design and construction of structures, as they can easily be adapted to meet specific requirements. Goodwinds Composites offers off-the-shelf sizes ranging from 0.02” to 0.75” in diameter for carbon and fiberglass rods and tubes.

5. Customization Options

The customization of composites is achievable through various means, such as adjusting the orientation of the reinforcing fibers and modifying the manufacturing process. Depending on the intended application, these variables can be adjusted to create materials with specific mechanical, thermal, electrical, or chemical properties.

Goodwinds Composites offers custom solutions for designing wrapped carbon tubes and pultruded micro carbon rods. Our expertise allows us to design and manufacture wrapped carbon tubes in varying diameters, wall thicknesses, stiffness levels, and hoop strengths.

6. Machinable Properties

Composites can be machined using conventional cutting tools like drills, end mills, and lathe tools. The process typically involves machining the rod or tube to a specific size or shape according to the desired specifications. Composites are also typically softer to machine than traditional materials, create significant, fine dust, and require specialized expertise to machine properly. At Goodwinds Composites, we can machine carbon and fiberglass rods and tubes to tight tolerances.

7. Advanced and Innovative Features

The use of composite materials in various industries — including aerospace, automotive, and sports — has grown significantly due to their advantageous properties. They are also often associated with space exploration and cutting-edge technology due to their use in spacecraft, satellites, and other space applications. In addition, these materials are favored by aerospace engineers for their high strength and lightweight.

Choose Goodwinds Composites for Your Composite Manufacturing Needs

Goodwinds Composites is a highly regarded American company specializing in creating custom composite materials! We have extensive knowledge and engineering expertise to provide helpful guidance and develop practical, cost-effective solutions for your unique applications. We also aim to meet your needs, whether you require a basic tube or a complex, high-tech structure.

Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive products and services!

 

Composite rods on the Mars explorer drone
Composite tubes played a critical role in NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter as the drone’s legs.