Round Aluminum Tubing Telescoping Compatible 6063

A telescopic tube is a set of hollow tubes designed to slide smoothly inside one another, much like the sections of a telescope. Each tube is sized with precise tolerances so that it can extend or collapse, creating an adjustable-length assembly. Telescopic tubing is widely used in products like display stands, adjustable supports, camera mounts, signage, and outdoor sporting goods, antennas, and portable equipment—anywhere flexibility and compact storage are important.

Standard round tubing is designed as a standalone structural component—it’s strong and versatile but not intended to slide within another tube. Telescopic tubing, on the other hand, is manufactured with tight tolerances on wall thickness, roundness, and straightness so that multiple tubes can nest and extend smoothly. This makes telescopic tubing the better choice for adjustable products like display poles, camera tripods, sensor mounts, telescoping sensor poles, ioT tubing, or any application where one tube must move in and out of another without binding.

First, you need two tubes where you know the outside of a smaller tube will fit inside the inside of a larger tube at every point along the tube. Look for tubing sold as “telescopic-compatible” which ensures that the tubes are tight tolerance in all the key dimensions necessary to ensure they’ll be able to slide in and out without catching. Next, there will be a gap between the outside of the inner tube and the inside of the outer tube. A telescopic tube lock can help take up this slack while also enabling you to lock the position of the tubes relative to one another. You can check out Tetrite’s L Lock and B Split Collar Lock, two examples of high quality telescopic tube locks. You can also check out Testrite’s Youtube Video - Build Your Own Telescopic Tube DIY at https://youtu.be/AKqosT-pRAM?si=q75oXecTlMa4qrpP

First, you can’t go by wall thickness alone. Make sure you’re buying telescopic compatible aluminum tubing, just going by the OD and wall thickness doesn’t mean tubing will telescope. Within the category of telescopic compatible aluminum tubing, the most popular wall thickness is .038” Wall Aluminum tubing. This is a thin wall tube great for a wide range of light duty applications. This tubing can be used in 1/8” increments with lots of clearance between the inner and outer tube, providing plenty of room for mating parts, powder coating, and more. Tubing can be easily worked and inner tubes entrapped. For heavier duty applications, .058” wall aluminum tubing can be ideal. This material can be used in 1/8” or ¼” increments. If using in 1/8” increments, there is VERY little clearance between sections, so even something as thin as a layer of powder coat or an imperfectly cleaned cut edge (not fully deburred) can cause tubes to catch.

Round telescopic compatible tubing is drawn over a mandrel. This draw-processed aluminum tubing ensures tight tolerances on both wall thickness and ovality, along with straightness. You need all of these attributes, manufactured with precision to ensure tubes nest smoothly without snagging.

Yes, absolutely! Any application where a light wall aluminum tube is needed can benefit from this tubing. The precision, consistent wall thickness, and roundness make it easier to work with as well as better for mating with precision machined parts. Extruded tubing has a wider range of tolerances than our telescopic-compatible tubes.

Telescopic tubing locks both reduce the play between sections and allow for locking position of the inner tube within the outer tube. These are standalone parts that can be added to telescopic tubes so long as the sizing is compatible. The two most popular telescopic tube locks are the L Lever Lock and the B Split Collar Lock, both available for purchase. If you need to try telescopic tubing clamps quickly without having to fabricate anything, you can purchase our standard off-the-shelf telescopic tubing assemblies that come equipped with locking mechanisms pre-assembled. These are great for prototyping or evaluating fit, lock styles, and performance before you start fabrication.

Yes, volume-based pricing is built into Testrite Aluminum’s online store. Larger orders automatically unlock increasing discounts—for example, higher volume orders may qualify for discounts up to 50% off the single piece price.

Our non-rotational tubing is mostly round with a U indent. These tubes are tight tolerance, even stronger than a round tube in certain ways, and the U indent helps the tubes, when used in 1/8” increments, to mitigate rotation and keep the tubes all aligned. Another alternative is square aluminum tubing if non-rotating is critical, although the locking mechanisms for square telescopic tubing aren’t as robust.