MicroGroup, Inc., Minitul

• Material“Material” specification is required, and can contain any number of digits (text and/or numeric) between one (1) and four (4).
• Tolerance Level“Tolerance Level” is for Fractional Tubing. Please indicate F1 or F2. Click here for tolerance definition.
• Nominal OD“OD” (outside diameter) specification is required and must contain from two (2) to four (4) numeric digits. (i.e., .032″ = 0032, 5mm = 05)
• Nominal Wall“Wall” thickness specification is required for most sizes and must contain three (3) numeric digits. (.006″ = 006, .035″ = 035)

MicroGroup is a leading worldwide distributor of small-diameterthin walled tubing offering quick shipments from over 7, 000, 000 feet (2, 100, 000 meters) in stock — one of the world’s largest inventories — available in alloy, 304, and 316 stainless steel tubing, both welded and seamless. Click on any stock material in the menu immediately above for detailed information. Stock stainless steel and other alloys are typically manufactured to an OD and wall dimensions. To purchase standard stock tubing please visit our Online Store For non-stock dimensions see Quick Turn, Custom Sized Tubing.

• OD (mm)< 3mm
• Wall Tolerance+/- 15%
• OD Tolerance (mm)+/- 0.050

MicroGroup typically stocks seamless 304 stainless steel metric tubing and 316 stainless steel metric tubing, usually in the annealed temper condition manufactured to OD and wall dimensions. Metric tubing is generally used with standard metric compression fittings and other commercial applications that require corrosion resistance and strength.

MicroGroup’s comprehensive range of drawing, centerless grinding and straightening equipment can alter the OD, ID andor wall thickness of tubing to achieve custom sizes that are not stocked while maintain short lead times. Tube Drawing MicroGroup tube formingdrawing equipment (shown at right) reduces the ID and OD of stock tubing to custom dimensions, andor can increase its tensile strength through the reduction process. Custom tubing can be sourced almost instantly from over 7, 000, 000 feet (2, 100, 000 meters) of tubing in inventory, to meet your ID requirements from .005″ to 1″, with ID tolerances as low as ±.001″ on some larger sizes, and ±.0005″ on smaller hypodermic tube sizes. MicroGroup can draw any grade of stainless steel tubing from 302 to 455, and can also draw copper, nickel, brass, Inconel® and other tubing. MicroGroup offers two methods of tube drawing (Sink Drawing and Plug Drawing) and has the ability to create custom shapes using these methods. SinkDraw Sink Drawing reduces the diameter of a tube by pulling it through a die without the use of a mandrel. In sink drawing, the ID is determined by the OD and wall thickness of the pre-drawn tube. This is the fastest form of drawing, and suitable for drawing of thick walled tubing, as well as drawing of tubes smaller than .062″ OD where using a mandrel is not possible.

Precision Cutting and Deburring MicroGroup offers a complete range of cutting methods to suit the most specific requirement — from rough cuts to extremely precise, burr-free cuts with high quality edges and finishes. The Cutting and Deburring Department can cut stock of virtually any O.D. but specializes in sizes under 1.0″ O.D., and can cut stock as small as 0.005″ O.D. metal stock can be cut to lengths as short as .010″ up to 20+ feet, with tolerances of ± 0.0005″ or better. Materials include all alloys of Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Copper, Nickel, Nitinol, Superalloys such as Hastelloy®, Inconel®, Monel, and precious metals including Gold, Platinum, Silver, Palladium, and others. MicroGroup can also satisfy any capacity requirement, from one piece to millions of pieces, and offers exceptionally short lead times. Cutting methods include: Electrochemical Cutting(ECC) Electrical Discharge Machining (Wire EDM) Laser cutting Electro Chemical Grinding (ECG) Abrasive cutting & Deburring A fully functional machine shop, MicroGroup can also cut using Band Saws, Cold Saws, Lathes and Shears for larger or unconventional shapes and sizes. Deburring can be accomplished using a variety of techniques, from state-of-the-art cutting methods to traditional hand and wire wheel processes, as the size, shape, material, finish and quantity of your parts dictate.

Electro Chemical Cutting MicroGroup maintains an entire electrochemical cutting (ECC) department that handles most of the company’s extensive cutting volume, due to the exceptional quality and economy offered by the process. The electrochemical cut off saw uses a copper abrasive blade in conjunction with a DC power supply and special salt solution. The combination produces a completely burr-free part with a zero defect level. Electrochemical cutting has many advantages over other methods. Fixtures are designed to hold multiple tubes or wires to be cut, limited only by their diameters. For stock diameters of .012″ (30Ga), fixtures will hold 121 lengths. For diameters of .203″ (6Ga), fixtures will hold nine lengths. The computerized automatic feed mechanism, combined with high volume fixturing capability, makes this a production-friendly process. Due to the electrolytic action, the finish of the cut faces is excellent with all sharp edges typically removed, leaving a small radius of approximately .001″ to .003″. The tightest length tolerance that can be held on the electrochemical saw is approximately ±.002″. However, combined with a secondary electrochemical grind operation, it is possible to achieve a cut length to ±.001″ on some stock. Unlike EDM and laser, which produce a localized heat-affected recast layer, electrochemical cutting will not induce heat or affect the metallurgy of the work piece. Both thin and thick materials can be electro chemically cut with similarly good results, unlike other forms of cutting, and they do not require a subsequent deburring step.

Electrical Discharge Machining Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is ideal for intricate burr-free cutting of intricate contours or cavities in hard materials, eliminating the need to soften the material before machining, and then re-harden it through heat-treating. The process can be used with stainless steel or other electrically conductive materials including titanium, Hastelloy®, Inconel®, nitinol and Kovar®. Also called “spark machining, ” spark eroding, “burning, ” “die sinking, ” and “wire erosion, ” the process uses electrical discharges between an electrode (the cutting tool) and the work piece, both immersed in a dielectric liquid to remove material from the part. EDM offers consistent results and is particularly suited for parts requiring tight tolerances. Extra fine surface finishes can be obtained and near perfect perpendicularity achieved using EDM. MicroGroup has proprietary fixtures, which permit the cutting of extremely small diameters (down to Ø0.005″) and to very short lengths (

Electro Chemical Grinding (ECG) Electrochemical grinding combines both electrolytic action (90%) and physical grinding (10%) to provide precision, burr-free and stress-free results. Owing to the electrolytic reaction, ECG eliminates the need for a separate deburring operation. It is also a low stress machining operation that avoids potential metallurgical damage associated with conventional grinding machines, including cracking and heat distortion. This makes ECG ideal for machining of delicate and thin walled parts. In addition, the electrolytic process can break sharp edges leaving a radius of .001 to .005 depending on the power settings. trocars_1-tip Electrochemical Grinding is often used when conventional machining proves too costly or difficult, and an EDM WireSinker is too slow. In most ECG applications, MicroGroup can hold tolerances of ±.001 using fixtures produced in-house by the Tooling Department. Electrochemical Grinding is limited to metals that are conductive, such as: stainless steel, aluminum, copper , amorphous metals, Hastelloy®, Inconel® and nitinol.

• MaterialStainless Steel Tubing
• Grade304

• Min.257
• OD259
• Wall02
• ID219
• Gauge Size3 RW

Hypodermic tubing is welded and drawn to tight OD and ID tolerances, and is sold and stocked in gauge sizes. MicroGroup maintains both 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel tubing in stock, typically in full-hard temper condition. 304 stainless steel hypodermic tubing is stocked in all sizes and wall thicknesses. 316 stainless steel hypodermic tubing is stocked in all gauges but primarily stocked in Regular Wall (RW) and Thin Wall (TW). MicroGroup hypodermic tubing is ideal for medical and industrial components applications that require strength, uniformity, and corrosion resistance. Not manufactured for pressure service. Wide selection, economical and quick delivery.

MicroGroup�s comprehensive range of drawing, centerless grinding and straightening equipment can alter the OD, ID andor wall thickness of tubing to achieve custom sizes that are not stocked while maintain short lead times. Tube Drawing MicroGroup tube formingdrawing equipment (shown at right) reduces the ID and OD of stock tubing to custom dimensions, andor can increase its tensile strength through the reduction process. Custom tubing can be sourced almost instantly from over 7, 000, 000 feet (2, 100, 000 meters) of tubing in inventory, to meet your ID requirements from .005� to 1�, with ID tolerances as low as ±.001� on some larger sizes, and ±.0005� on smaller hypodermic tube sizes. MicroGroup can draw any grade of stainless steel tubing from 302 to 455, and can also draw copper, nickel, brass, Inconel® and other tubing. MicroGroup offers two methods of tube drawing (Sink Drawing and Plug Drawing) and has the ability to create custom shapes using these methods. SinkDraw Sink Drawing reduces the diameter of a tube by pulling it through a die without the use of a mandrel. In sink drawing, the ID is determined by the OD and wall thickness of the pre-drawn tube. This is the fastest form of drawing, and suitable for drawing of thick walled tubing, as well as drawing of tubes smaller than .062� OD where using a mandrel is not possible.

Precision Cutting and Deburring MicroGroup offers a complete range of cutting methods to suit the most specific requirement � from rough cuts to extremely precise, burr-free cuts with high quality edges and finishes. The Cutting and Deburring Department can cut stock of virtually any O.D. but specializes in sizes under 1.0� O.D., and can cut stock as small as 0.005� O.D. metal stock can be cut to lengths as short as .010� up to 20+ feet, with tolerances of ± 0.0005� or better. Materials include all alloys of Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Copper, Nickel, Nitinol, Superalloys such as Hastelloy®, Inconel®, Monel, and precious metals including Gold, Platinum, Silver, Palladium, and others. MicroGroup can also satisfy any capacity requirement, from one piece to millions of pieces, and offers exceptionally short lead times. Cutting methods include: Electrochemical Cutting(ECC) Electrical Discharge Machining (Wire EDM) Laser cutting Electro Chemical Grinding (ECG) Abrasive cutting & Deburring A fully functional machine shop, MicroGroup can also cut using Band Saws, Cold Saws, Lathes and Shears for larger or unconventional shapes and sizes. Deburring can be accomplished using a variety of techniques, from state-of-the-art cutting methods to traditional hand and wire wheel processes, as the size, shape, material, finish and quantity of your parts dictate.

Laser Cutting MicroGroup’s CNC-controlled Laser Machines generate a high-powered beam of light that delivers precise, repeatable cuts with optimized end face surface finish and edge quality. MicroGroup has eleven YAG lasers in house, five of which are hitch-fed stent lasers, excellent for high volume production work. These lasers can repeatedly cut metal in thicknesses from.125″ down to .001″, and can cut slots as thin as .0008″. Laser cutting is typically selected for parts that are small in size, highly precise andor geometrically intricate. Since laser cutting is non-contact, it is ideal for the cutting of very thin-wall, fragile parts without distortion. It is also a clean process since cut faces do not contact a blade or cutting tool, which could impart contaminants. Laser cutting is an excellent complement to other MicroGroup cutting technologies, since laser cutting is often an economical alternative to electrical discharge machining (EDM) andor milling.