K-Tube Frequently Asked Questions

K-Tube forms tubing by laser welding precision strip into a continuous tube and then drawing it through a series of dies to reach exact dimensions and finishes. This process allows us to make very small, consistent, and high-performance tubing for medical, aerospace, and industrial applications.

We work with a wide range of stainless steels, nickel-based superalloys, and titanium. Common choices include 304, 316L, 17-7 PH, Inconel 625, Hastelloy C-276, and titanium. If it can be welded, we can likely make tubing from it.

Our tubing is laser welded, creating precise and strong seams. We also offer homogeneous tubing that removes visible weld zones for applications that need the appearance and uniformity of seamless tubing without the cost.

K-Tube offers fully customizable finishes on both the inner and outer diameters (ID and OD). Depending on your application, finishes can range from ultra-smooth surfaces that help navigate tight clearances to rougher textures designed to control flow rate. Standard options include bright-drawn, matte, and PTFE plug-drawn interiors, along with solvent cleaning and polishing services for enhanced cleanliness, weldability, and performance.

Homogeneous tubing looks and behaves like seamless tubing at a lower cost. A specialized process removes visible weld lines and blends the material structure, making it ideal for high-pressure or aesthetic applications.

We don’t produce aluminum tubing. While we don’t currently offer nickel-titanium (Nitinol), we’re open to exploring it in the future. If this material would be useful for your application, let us know—we’re always evaluating new capabilities.

It depends on your environment and performance needs. For example:

• 304/304L: General purpose, corrosion-resistant, cost-effective
• 316L: Enhanced corrosion resistance and weldability; ideal for medical applications requiring biocompatibility and durability.
• 17-7 PH: High strength and stability after heat treatment
• Inconel and Hastelloy: For high-temperature and chemical environments
• Titanium: Lightweight and biocompatible for aerospace and medical uses
  Our engineers can help you select the best alloy for your application.

Explore our Alloy Options

We manufacture tubing with outside diameters as small as 0.004 inches (0.1 mm) and outside diameters up to 0.25 inches (6.4 mm). Custom dimensions are available upon request.

We can produce tubing up to approximately 0.220 inches in outer diameter (OD) with wall thicknesses up to 0.020 inches, depending on the alloy and application.

Our smallest tubing has an OD of about 0.004 inches — finer than a strand of human hair — ideal for microcatheters, wire guides, and precision instruments.

Yes. We provide tight-tolerance cutting for straight sections and coil-to-coil processing for continuous lengths. We offer three end-finish options based on your application needs: burr-free, machine-feed, and rough-cut ends.

There’s no set limit. We can provide tubing in virtually any length that fits your application. Let us know what works best for your process — we can also supply material in coil form for continuous runs.

Yes. Through our Discover Program, customers can collaborate directly with our engineers to create rapid prototypes, test materials, and refine designs before scaling to production.

We conduct dimensional inspection, eddy current testing, and mechanical property verification to ensure consistency and strength. We also perform surface finish measurement and pressure testing when required.

Yes. K-Tube is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified, ensuring consistent quality and environmental responsibility in all processes.

Yes. We provide several thermal processes including annealing for ductility, CH-900 heat treatment for strength, and controlled tempering to achieve desired mechanical properties.

Minimum orders depend on alloy and size, but most standard tubing starts around 50–100 feet. Prototype orders may qualify for smaller quantities.

Stock tubing often ships within a few days. Custom tubing typically ships within 6–10 weeks, depending on specifications and processing requirements.

Yes. We ship worldwide and have representatives in North America, Europe, and Latin America to assist with orders and logistics.

Yes. Most of our raw materials are sourced from trusted domestic suppliers to maintain quality, traceability, and consistent performance.

All K-Tube tubing is manufactured in Poway, California, USA.

Each part number identifies key information about the tube — including the alloy, size, temper, and finish. If you are unsure what a part number means, our team can help you interpret or match it.

Yes. We work closely with customers to meet custom size, material, and performance requirements. Our engineers help design tubing that meets tight tolerances or specialized application needs.

Yes. We can provide feedback on engineering drawings, but can provide the certificates of conformance and test data packages upon request.

We’ve been perfecting the art and science of precision tubing since 1974. What began as a small team of engineers with a new way to make miniature tubing has grown into one of the most trusted names in laser-welded tubing worldwide.

K-Tube partners with innovators across a wide range of fields — from medical and aerospace to industrial, defense, and research applications. Our tubing is used anywhere precision, performance, and reliability matter, including catheters, surgical robots, heat exchangers, sensors, and advanced prototypes. Whether you’re developing a new concept or scaling production, we work with you to make your idea possible.

Yes. Visit our Free Downloads page to access material guides, tolerance charts, and specification sheets.

Absolutely. Our engineering and sales teams work directly with customers to solve design challenges, refine specifications, and choose the best materials and processes for each application. We don’t just answer questions, we collaborate from concept through production to make sure your tubing performs exactly as intended.