MATRIX
01-15-07, 05:59 PM
The facts on BMX tubeing...what is good and what is CRAP. This is all from www.truetemper.com (http://www.truetemper.com) I’ll also be getting info on the others. Incase your wondering why a certian frame holds up better than another or what frame material is best.
http://www.truetemper.com/performance_tubing/ox.asp
OX Platinum
OX Platinum is a proprietary superthermophillic (heat-loving) alloy, developed in partnership with the U.S. Steel Alliance. The composition of Chromium, Molybdenum, and Vanadium with an unprecedented 217 ksi ultimate tensile strength makes this alloy actually gain strength through a metallurgical transformation in the heat-affected zone as a result of welding or brazing. OX Platinum is highly temper-resistant, resulting in an 11% increase in fatigue life and a 20% increase in impact strength over the competition. The increased mechanical properties of OX Platinum allow for incredibly strong, yet lightweight frame designs with that legendary feel of steel ride quality.
http://www.truetemper.com/performance_tubing/bmx.asp
BMX ST Tubing
SUPERTHERM™ is made from a proprietary superthermophilic (heat-loving) alloy. With an industry-leading strength of 217 KSI. These tubes will take a thrashing and come back for more. This is the ultimate material for high strength and low weight so you can go higher, faster, longer.
BMX SR Tubing
SR™ is the benchmark of the industry for high tensile strength at 120KSI. Stress relieving the tubes removes residual stresses created in forming any tubing structure. The result of this is a higher fatigue life than non-stress relieved tubing, incredible stiffness, low weight, and the "feel of steel."
BMX HT Tubing
HT™ is precision butted heat-treated chromium-molybdenum with a yield strength up to 175 KSI. Each tube is designed for its specific function in the frame to maximize strength in high stress areas, and reduce weight everywhere possible. BMX Steel HT™ has the perfect balance of strength, ductility, and low weight.
You can get the wall thickness and strength on their site.
SANKO tubing from the WTP site.
What is Sanko tubing?
Japan is well known for their steel manufacturing. Sanko is a company that is famous for their high quality tubular steel and wethepeople were the first to use it and standardise it's usage in the bmx market. The tubing we are using is made especially for the bicycle market. We use both single, double, offset butted and regular tubing. Even on the regular tubing we can use thinner tubing since it's stronger (Material strength (kg/mm2) is 78) and higher quality than normal Taiwanese steel. The firm itself is well respected, has been in business since 1956 and employs nearly 300 people. We use only AISI* 4130 Cromoly(Chromium-molybdenum, CrMo, Chrome-moly), a low alloy steel for our aftermarket frames because it offers the best combination between strength, quality, availability and weldability.
4130 CrMo contains 95%+ Iron(Fe) and the following alloying agents:
0.28-0.33% Carbon (C)
0.4- 0.6% Manganese (Mn)
0.8-1.1% Cromium (Cr)
0.15-0.25% Molybdenum (Mo)
0.04% Phosphorous (P)
0.04% Sulphur (S)
0.2-0.35% Silicon (Si)
- Keywords if you're interested in finding out more in the net, AISI 4000 Series Steel, Low Alloy Steel, Medium Carbon Steel, Metal, CrMo, 4130, Sanko, *American Iron and Steel Association
Where are the frames made.
They are made in Taiwan with Sanko Japanese 4130. This is the very best material available and although we were the first to use it, several other well respected firms now use it too.
fluted
What is fluted tubing?
This means that the inside of the tubing is shaped more like a star, so there are beams to support for example the fork legs. This method actually removes material from the tube to make it lighter, but the beams actually make it stronger. We use fluted tubing on our forks and since 2004 a 'similar' process on some of the frames (our frames use Sanko triple drawn tubing which also increases the tube strength and stiffness).
http://www.truetemper.com/performance_tubing/ox.asp
OX Platinum
OX Platinum is a proprietary superthermophillic (heat-loving) alloy, developed in partnership with the U.S. Steel Alliance. The composition of Chromium, Molybdenum, and Vanadium with an unprecedented 217 ksi ultimate tensile strength makes this alloy actually gain strength through a metallurgical transformation in the heat-affected zone as a result of welding or brazing. OX Platinum is highly temper-resistant, resulting in an 11% increase in fatigue life and a 20% increase in impact strength over the competition. The increased mechanical properties of OX Platinum allow for incredibly strong, yet lightweight frame designs with that legendary feel of steel ride quality.
http://www.truetemper.com/performance_tubing/bmx.asp
BMX ST Tubing
SUPERTHERM™ is made from a proprietary superthermophilic (heat-loving) alloy. With an industry-leading strength of 217 KSI. These tubes will take a thrashing and come back for more. This is the ultimate material for high strength and low weight so you can go higher, faster, longer.
BMX SR Tubing
SR™ is the benchmark of the industry for high tensile strength at 120KSI. Stress relieving the tubes removes residual stresses created in forming any tubing structure. The result of this is a higher fatigue life than non-stress relieved tubing, incredible stiffness, low weight, and the "feel of steel."
BMX HT Tubing
HT™ is precision butted heat-treated chromium-molybdenum with a yield strength up to 175 KSI. Each tube is designed for its specific function in the frame to maximize strength in high stress areas, and reduce weight everywhere possible. BMX Steel HT™ has the perfect balance of strength, ductility, and low weight.
You can get the wall thickness and strength on their site.
SANKO tubing from the WTP site.
What is Sanko tubing?
Japan is well known for their steel manufacturing. Sanko is a company that is famous for their high quality tubular steel and wethepeople were the first to use it and standardise it's usage in the bmx market. The tubing we are using is made especially for the bicycle market. We use both single, double, offset butted and regular tubing. Even on the regular tubing we can use thinner tubing since it's stronger (Material strength (kg/mm2) is 78) and higher quality than normal Taiwanese steel. The firm itself is well respected, has been in business since 1956 and employs nearly 300 people. We use only AISI* 4130 Cromoly(Chromium-molybdenum, CrMo, Chrome-moly), a low alloy steel for our aftermarket frames because it offers the best combination between strength, quality, availability and weldability.
4130 CrMo contains 95%+ Iron(Fe) and the following alloying agents:
0.28-0.33% Carbon (C)
0.4- 0.6% Manganese (Mn)
0.8-1.1% Cromium (Cr)
0.15-0.25% Molybdenum (Mo)
0.04% Phosphorous (P)
0.04% Sulphur (S)
0.2-0.35% Silicon (Si)
- Keywords if you're interested in finding out more in the net, AISI 4000 Series Steel, Low Alloy Steel, Medium Carbon Steel, Metal, CrMo, 4130, Sanko, *American Iron and Steel Association
Where are the frames made.
They are made in Taiwan with Sanko Japanese 4130. This is the very best material available and although we were the first to use it, several other well respected firms now use it too.
fluted
What is fluted tubing?
This means that the inside of the tubing is shaped more like a star, so there are beams to support for example the fork legs. This method actually removes material from the tube to make it lighter, but the beams actually make it stronger. We use fluted tubing on our forks and since 2004 a 'similar' process on some of the frames (our frames use Sanko triple drawn tubing which also increases the tube strength and stiffness).