PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Runway manufactures small diameter carbon fiber tubes for applications where low weight, compact dimensions, high stiffness and precise mechanical fit are important.
Our small carbon fiber tube range covers common outside diameters including 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm and 20mm, with wall thickness options from approximately 0.5mm to 2.0mm. Standard lengths include 1000mm, 1500mm and 2000mm, while OD, ID, wall thickness, length, fiber type and surface finish can also be customized for OEM projects.
For UAV arms, robotic components, instrument rods, medical equipment, RC structures and other compact assemblies, a small diameter carbon tube can provide the stiffness required without adding the weight associated with conventional metal tubing.
● Outer Diameter: 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm
● Wall Thickness: 0.5mm, 0.75mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm
● Standard Length: 1000mm, 1500mm, 2000mm
● Fiber Options: T300-3K, T700-3K and project-specific carbon fiber options
● Resin System: Epoxy resin
● Surface Finish: Glossy, matte or woven carbon fiber appearance depending on specification
● Customization: OD, ID, wall thickness, length, fiber layup and surface finish
● Typical Applications: UAV arms, RC structures, robotics, instrument rods, medical tubing and precision industrial assemblies
These dimensions represent Runway's current standard small-tube range. Custom specifications should be confirmed according to tooling, laminate structure and order requirements.
| Material | 100% carbon fiber or hybrid carbon fiber and fiberglass |
| Shape | Round/oval |
| Technology | Roll-wrapped or pultrusion |
| Dimension | 10mm/20mm/30mm/40mm/50mm or customize length: 50mm/100mm/1000mm or less than 5000mm |
| Surface | Black glossy/matte surface/painted |
| Glossy 3k weave/matte 3k weave | |
| Color metal wire weave | |
| Feature | light weight, high strength |
| Working Temperature | Usually -30-120 degree, if special requirment, please let us know. |
| Place Of Origin | China |
| Function | Marine, Agriculture Tools, Arrow Shaft, Medical, Sport Products |
| Tolerance | Diameter Tolerance: +/-0.1mm |
| Length Tolerance: +/-1mm | |
| Packing | 1pc/PP Bag; 50-100pcs/Ctn |
Delivery Time: Shipped in 7-15 days after payment.
It depends on the order quantities.
Our Service:
1. It ensures that a year of quality assurance and 24 hours online customer service.
2. Protection of your sales area, ideas of design and all your private information.
3. Request for samples is accepted.
4. Drilling and slotting are accepted.
5. We guarantee the products to be manufactured with the finest materials and mature technics.
All tubes can be repaired at no charge if returned to us, postage prepaid, within one year.
Reducing tube diameter creates a different engineering challenge from simply making a larger carbon fiber structure.
Small tubes must provide useful stiffness and strength within a very limited cross-section while also maintaining the dimensions required for joining, sliding, bonding or fitting into other components.
Carbon fiber is especially useful in these applications because it combines low weight with high specific stiffness.
Compared with conventional metal tubing, properly designed carbon fiber tubes can offer:
● High stiffness-to-weight performance
● Low structural weight
● Good fatigue resistance
● Corrosion and chemical resistance
● Stable dimensions under load
● Fiber orientation adapted to the primary load direction
These characteristics make small carbon fiber tubes particularly suitable for moving components, airborne structures and compact precision assemblies.
For applications where every gram matters, tube diameter alone is not the only consideration. Wall thickness also has a major effect on final component weight.
Runway offers thin-wall configurations starting from approximately 0.5mm within its current small-diameter tube range. A relatively small difference between OD and ID can reduce material volume and component weight compared with a thicker-wall tube of the same outside diameter.
A thin-wall carbon fiber tube can be considered for:
● Lightweight UAV and drone structures
● RC aircraft and model components
● Instrument shafts and rods
● Compact robotic structures
● Camera and optical equipment
● Lightweight support members
● Medical and rehabilitation equipment
● Portable precision devices
The appropriate wall thickness should not be selected by weight alone. Diameter, unsupported length, bending load, compression, torsion, impact and connection method should all be considered before reducing wall thickness.
For buyers searching for a thin diameter carbon tube, Runway can review both diameter and wall thickness together instead of treating them as separate specifications.
Carbon fiber tube performance depends not only on how much carbon fiber is used, but also on how the fibers are oriented.
● Fibers aligned mainly along the tube axis help provide longitudinal stiffness and resistance to bending.
● Circumferential or angled reinforcement can improve resistance to hoop loading, crushing and torsional forces.
● A woven outer layer may be used where surface appearance or additional multidirectional reinforcement is required.
Small-diameter tube applications often require high axial stiffness because bending is a primary load for long, slender components.
Runway can review fiber type, manufacturing method and laminate requirements according to the actual load case rather than applying the same layup to every project.
Runway has multiple composite manufacturing processes, including roll wrapping, pultrusion and filament winding.
This allows the production process to be selected according to tube geometry, load requirements, quantity and cost target.
Roll wrapping provides flexibility in laminate construction and fiber orientation.
It is suitable for applications requiring controlled wall construction, high bending stiffness or a woven cosmetic outer surface.
Pultrusion is well suited to straight, constant-section tubing produced with continuous fibers.
It provides high axial stiffness and can be an efficient option for repeat production where the structural requirements match the pultruded fiber architecture.
Filament winding allows continuous fibers to be placed at controlled angles around the tube.
It can be useful when circumferential strength, torsional performance or application-specific fiber angles are important.
The manufacturing process should therefore be chosen according to the application rather than simply according to tube diameter.
Standard dimensions are useful for prototypes and common assemblies, but many OEM projects require a specific mechanical fit.
Runway supports customized carbon fiber tubes based on customer drawings and performance requirements.
Customization options include:
● Custom outside diameter
● Custom inside diameter
● Thin or increased wall thickness
● Custom tube length
● T300 or T700 carbon fiber
● Application-specific laminate construction
● Unidirectional and woven reinforcement combinations
● Glossy or matte finish
● 3K woven surface appearance
● Prototype development
● Production quantities
● Precision dimensional requirements
If your application requires a non-standard diameter, we recommend sending both the tube drawing and mating-component dimensions so that manufacturability can be reviewed before production.
Small diameter carbon fiber tubes are suitable for UAV arms, frame supports, landing structures and lightweight connecting members where unnecessary mass directly affects system efficiency.
Compact carbon tubes can be used in robotic arms, actuators, lightweight linkages and moving structures where reducing inertia can support faster mechanical movement.
Thin and lightweight carbon tubes are suitable for model aircraft, RC vehicles and other structures requiring lightweight reinforcement within a restricted space.
Small carbon tubes can be used in lightweight support components, instrument structures and rehabilitation equipment where dimensional control and low mass are important.
Carbon fiber's combination of stiffness and dimensional stability makes small tubes useful for instrument rods, sensing equipment and precision structural members.
Small and thin carbon tubes can be considered for camera rigs, supports, positioning structures and portable optical assemblies where weight reduction improves handling.
Runway also manufactures custom carbon fiber tubing for industrial equipment where the tube must integrate with inserts, clamps, bearings or other mechanical components.
Runway is a dedicated carbon fiber and composite manufacturer with production capabilities covering carbon fiber tubes and other advanced composite structures.
Runway supports roll wrapping, filament winding and pultrusion, giving OEM customers more flexibility when matching the manufacturing process to structural requirements.
Projects are not limited to standard carbon fiber construction.
Runway also works with fiberglass, aramid fiber and hybrid reinforcement combinations when an application requires a different balance of stiffness, impact resistance, weight and cost.
Small tube projects often depend on mechanical fit.
Runway can customize OD, ID, wall thickness and length according to project requirements instead of limiting buyers to fixed retail dimensions.
Runway supports custom carbon fiber tube projects from initial drawing evaluation and prototype development through repeat production.
For small diameter carbon tubing, dimensional consistency is particularly important because the tube often needs to fit into another precision component.
Runway's published quality process includes:
Incoming material inspection
In-process dimensional and strength checks
Final inspection before shipment
Export-ready packaging for international logistics
Runway also references ASTM D3039 and ISO 527 within its published carbon fiber tube quality procedures.
For precision applications, project-specific dimensional, mechanical or documentation requirements should be confirmed during quotation.
What sizes are available for Runway small diameter carbon fiber tubes?
Runway's current standard range includes OD sizes of 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm and 20mm, with several wall thickness options. Custom dimensions can also be discussed.
What is the thinnest wall thickness available?
Runway currently lists wall thickness options starting from approximately 0.5mm for its small carbon fiber tube range. Final feasibility depends on tube diameter, laminate structure and application requirements.
Can you manufacture a custom diameter carbon fiber tube?
Yes. Runway supports custom OD, ID, wall thickness and length according to drawings and project requirements.
Is a thinner carbon fiber tube always lighter?
For the same outside diameter and material system, reducing wall thickness generally reduces material volume and weight. However, the wall must still provide adequate stiffness and resistance to the actual application loads.
Which is more important, OD or ID?
It depends on the assembly.
OD is usually critical when the tube fits inside another component.
ID is usually critical when a shaft, insert or connector fits inside the carbon tube.
Can fiber orientation be customized?
Yes. Runway offers multiple carbon fiber tube manufacturing processes and customizable composite structures, allowing the laminate to be selected according to project requirements.
Can small carbon fiber tubes be used for UAVs and robotics?
Yes. Small and lightweight carbon fiber tubes are suitable for UAV arms, robotic structures, instrument rods and other applications where low weight and high stiffness are important.
Send us your required OD, ID, wall thickness, length, tolerance and quantity, together with your drawing if available.Runway will help you select an appropriate tube specification and manufacturing process for your application.
+86 156 9543 6852
Science & Technology Industrial Park, Zhangdian, Zibo, Shangdong, China
