Wexmar provides custom fitting machining for fluid power, process, instrumentation and gas-handling OEMs. We produce CNC machined fittings to your drawing, including special adapters, elbows from bar, bulkhead fittings, test ports, nozzles and orifice fittings, at our shop in Canastota, New York.
What fittings do and who buys them
A fitting connects tube, hose or pipe to a component or to another line while sealing pressure. Catalog fittings cover common sizes and thread combinations. Custom fittings fill the gaps: unusual thread pairs, special lengths, integral orifices, non-standard materials, or features that combine several catalog parts into one. Our fitting buyers include hydraulic and pneumatic equipment builders, pump and valve OEMs, instrumentation and analyzer companies, fastener and hardware suppliers, medical device makers and defense build-to-print programs replacing obsolete fittings.
How Wexmar machines custom fittings
Most fittings are turned from hex or round bar. Fittings up to 32 mm diameter run complete on our four Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type machines with FMB bar feeders. The Swiss process turns, drills, threads and cross-drills in one cycle and supports the part close to the tool, which helps on long, thin fittings. These machines can run lights-out on production lots.
Larger fittings run on our Mazak and Doosan CNC lathes, including the Nexus QT200, Nexus 250, Multiplex 6300Y and Lynx 2100A. The twin-spindle Multiplex finishes both ends in one cycle, so thread and seat on each end are concentric. Live tooling and Y-axis add wrench flats, cross ports and gauge ports. Tee, cross and elbow bodies machined from block go to our Mazak horizontal machining centers with 4th-axis rotaries. See Swiss machining and CNC turning.
Fitting materials
- Steel: 12L14 and 1215 free-machining steel, 1018 and 4140 for high-pressure hydraulic fittings.
- Stainless: 303 for general use, 316 and 316L for corrosive and process service, 17-4 PH and Nitronic 50 for strength and galling resistance.
- Brass and bronze: C36000 free-cutting brass for air, water and fuel; bronze for marine service.
- High-nickel alloys: Monel, Inconel and Hastelloy for chemical and high-temperature lines.
- Others: aluminum, titanium and engineered plastics such as PEEK and PVDF.
Critical fitting features and how we hold them
- Threads: NPT and NPTF checked with L1 plug and ring gages, UN/UNF to 2A/2B or 3A/3B, BSPP, BSPT and metric, single-point or thread milled.
- Sealing geometry: 37 degree JIC flares, 24 degree DIN cones, SAE J1926 O-ring bosses and face-seal grooves cut with form tools for correct angle and finish.
- Concentricity: seat, bore and thread cut in one chucking or on the twin-spindle to keep the flow path and sealing faces aligned.
- Orifices and small bores: drilled and reamed to size, with burr-free break-throughs.
- Hex and wrench flats: across-flats held for standard wrenches.
Typical tolerances and finishes
| Feature | Typical tolerance | Tighter on request |
|---|---|---|
| Straight threads | UN 2A / 2B | UN 3A / 3B |
| Tapered pipe threads | NPT, L1 gage ±1 turn | NPTF dryseal |
| Through bore / orifice | ±0.002 in | ±0.0005 in |
| Seat angle | ±0.5 degree | ±0.25 degree |
| Seat to thread concentricity | 0.002 in | 0.001 in |
| Sealing surface finish | 32 Ra | 16 Ra |
Secondary operations
Zinc, zinc-nickel and nickel plating, black oxide, passivation and heat treat are performed through qualified outside processors. Cleaning for oxygen or instrument service can be specified on the drawing, and we will review those requirements with you before quoting. Laser marking or engraving is available through outside processors as well.
Quantity patterns
Fitting orders typically range from 10 to 50 pieces for replacement or prototype needs up to runs of several thousand on the Swiss machines. Many customers place annual blanket orders with scheduled releases, which suits our lights-out Swiss capacity.
Inspection
Threads are verified with calibrated go/no-go ring and plug gages, including L1 and L2 gages for pipe threads. Seat angles and profiles are checked on our Mitsubishi optical comparator, and bore and cross-port positions on Brown & Sharpe CMMs. AS9102-format first articles, material certs and lot traceability are available. See inspection and quality.
Getting a quote
Send a drawing with thread specs, material, finish and quantity. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate, and an estimator will confirm pricing. Or call (315) 400-2654. Related: custom adapters.