Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a tube for an expansion shaft. A plurality of fiber strata, each consisting essentially of long continuous fibers, and at least one layer of honeycomb material, the fiber strata and the layer(s) of honeycomb material being in alternating sequence forming are a sandwich compound, are applied to a mandrel having moldings or projections thereon. The fiber strata are applied so that few if any fibers are severed by the moldings. The tube has apertures, which are formed by the moldings. In order that the necessary openings do not weaken the structure of the carbon fibers, they are placed around the moldings forming the apertures and afterwards the sandwich compound is saturated with epoxy. The remarkable feature of the tube is the extremely light weight and the resulting advantages especially with regard to its handling.

Abstract: Composite tube, which is a sandwich structure, comprising a plurality of fiber strata, each made of epoxy-saturated fibers, and at least one layer of a honeycomb material sandwiched between. The fiber strata and the honeycomb layers are in alternating sequence. Each fiber stratum may include a fiber web surrounded by a fiber cable, which consists essentially of a large number of twisted fibers arranged in the axial direction and parallel to each other. The composite tube of this invention is very light in weight, yet has tensile strength and other mechanical properties corresponding to those of conventional tubes made of steel. The tube of this invention is especially useful as a guide roller or an expansion shaft.