Wexmar provides custom nozzle machining for OEMs that need a nozzle to meter, atomize, direct or shape a flow of liquid, gas or powder. We are a direct precision CNC machine shop in Canastota, New York, and we produce CNC machined nozzles from prototype lots through repeat production on CNC lathes, Swiss-type machines and horizontal machining centers under one roof. Every quote is reviewed by a human estimator before it goes out.
What nozzles do and who buys them
A nozzle converts pressure into a controlled stream. The orifice size, the inlet cone, the land length and the exit geometry decide flow rate, spray angle and droplet size, so small dimensional errors show up directly as performance errors. Our nozzle work typically serves:
- Industrial OEMs building pumps, washers, coolant systems and fluid power equipment
- Instrumentation and analytical equipment makers that need small, repeatable gas and sample nozzles
- Dispensing, coating and adhesive equipment builders
- Defense and government build-to-print programs that call out nozzle tips and fittings
How our custom nozzle machining works
Most nozzles are turned parts, and the process choice follows diameter and feature count.
Swiss-type turning for small nozzles
Nozzle tips and bodies up to 32 mm diameter run on our four Maier MLK-32 Swiss-type machines with FMB bar feeders. The guide bushing supports the bar right at the cut, which keeps long, slender bodies straight and lets us drill small orifices and cross holes in one cycle. Swiss runs are lights-out capable for production volumes.
CNC lathes with live tooling
Larger nozzle bodies, flanged nozzles and manifold-style parts run on our Mazak and Doosan lathes. Live tooling and Y-axis let us add wrench flats, cross ports and off-center holes without a second setup, and the Mazak Multiplex 6300Y finishes both ends in one cycle.
Horizontal milling
Block-style spray heads, multi-outlet nozzle manifolds and flat-faced mounting features go to our Mazak horizontal machining centers. The 4th axis indexes the part so angled outlets are drilled from a common datum. See our CNC turning and Swiss machining pages for more on each process.
Typical nozzle materials
- 303, 304 and 316 stainless for general fluid and washdown service
- 17-4 PH and 400-series stainless where hardness and wear resistance matter
- Brass and bronze for low-cost spray and water nozzles
- Inconel, Hastelloy and Monel for heat, corrosive chemistry and high-pressure service
- Titanium, aluminum and engineered plastics for weight, chemistry or insulation needs
Critical nozzle features and how we hold them
- Orifice diameter and roundness: drilled, then reamed or finish bored where the drawing requires it, and checked with pin gages and the optical comparator.
- Orifice-to-thread concentricity: the thread, seat and orifice are cut in the same chucking whenever possible so the spray axis stays true to the mounting thread.
- Inlet cone and exit edge: form tools and controlled deburring keep the exit edge sharp and free of burrs that would distort the spray pattern.
- Sealing seats and threads: NPT, UN and metric threads are single-point cut or thread milled and gaged to class; conical seats are checked for angle and finish.
Typical nozzle tolerances and finishes
| Feature | Typical tolerance | Tighter on request |
|---|---|---|
| Orifice diameter | +/-0.0005 in | +/-0.0002 in |
| Outside diameter | +/-0.001 in | +/-0.0005 in |
| Orifice to thread concentricity | 0.002 in TIR | 0.0005 in TIR |
| Thread class | 2A / 2B, NPT L1 gage | 3A / 3B |
| Seat angle | +/-0.5 deg | +/-0.25 deg |
| Bore and seat finish | 63 Ra | 32 Ra or finer |
Values are typical for small to medium nozzles. Actual capability depends on material, orifice length-to-diameter ratio and overall geometry, and we confirm it on every quote.
Secondary operations
Passivation of stainless nozzles, heat treat of 17-4 PH or 400-series tips, plating and anodizing are completed through qualified outside processors, with processor certs returned with the order. Wire EDM for non-round orifices is also handled through qualified outside processors. We manage the routing and inspect the parts on return.
Quantity patterns
Nozzle buyers usually start with 5 to 50 prototypes for flow testing, then move to blanket orders of a few hundred to several thousand pieces per release. Swiss production and second-shift capacity support scheduled releases, and bar stock can be held for repeat runs.
Inspection
Orifice size, seat geometry and concentricity are verified with our Brown and Sharpe CMMs, the Mitsubishi optical comparator, pin gages and thread gages. First article inspection in AS9102 format, CMM reports, material certs and heat-lot traceability are available. Details are on our inspection and quality page.
Getting a quote
Send a drawing with material, quantity and any flow or finish requirements. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate in PDF or STEP, and an estimator will confirm pricing and lead time. To talk through a nozzle design, call (315) 400-2654, Monday through Friday, 7 to 4 Eastern.