How to choose the correct pneumatic fittings

• ★ Tubing type needed ( Inch or Metric, Thermoplastic or Metal, Size)
• ★ Air pressure or P.S.I. requirement
• ★ Thread type of fitting needed (pipe, British pipe, metric, SAE Straight Thread)
• ★ Vibration concerns
• ★ Fitting material needed (brass, stainless steel, thermoplastic, nickel plated brass)
• ★ Approvals needed (for example: Department of Transportation, Underwriters Laboratory, FDA)

Once these determinations have been made, there are a wide array of fitting types to choose from.  What follows is a listing of the more popular styles available with a description of their uses. None of the following fittings are D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) approved. 

COMPRESSION STYLE

Compression – Characteristics: No flaring or soldering needed. Tube compatibility: Available in inch dimension only, Copper, Aluminum, Thermoplastic; Thread availability: Male pipe , Female pipe; Body material: Brass; Approvals: UL listed for flammable liquid, SAE J-512 compliant.

Compress-Align – Characteristics: No flaring or soldering needed, preassembled fitting with captive sleeve. Tube compatibility: Available in inch dimension only, Copper, Aluminum, TFE, PEA, PFA, Thermoplastic; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe; Body material: Brass; Approvals: None 

Metru-Lok – Characteristics: One piece, preassembled fitting with captive ferrule; Tube compatibility: Available in metric dimension only, Copper, Aluminum, Thermoplastic; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe, British parallel pipe, British tapered pipe, SAE Straight Thread, Metric; Body material: Brass; Approvals: None

Poly-Tite – Characteristics: A preassembled compact fitting. The exclusive acetal copolymer sleeve resists stress caused by compression; Tube compatibility: Available in inch dimension only, Thermoplastic and soft metal tubing; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe; Body material: Brass or stainless steel; Approvals: None

Hi-Duty Flareless Tube Fittings – Preassembled fitting with a captive sleeve for high pressure applications (1000 to 4300 P.S.I.); Tube compatibility: Available in inch dimension only, Copper, Brass, Seamless Steel, Thermoplastic; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe; Body material: Brass; Approvals: None

PUSH TO CONNECT STYLE

Prestolok Metal – Characteristics: One piece push to connect fitting for low pressure applications that allows for easy disassemble and reassemble. Come with a pre-applied thread sealant; Tube compatibility: Most Thermoplastic ( 85A Polyurethane excluded)  in both inch and  metric  dimensions; Thread availability: Male pipe,  Female pipe, British Parallel Pipe, British Tapered Pipe, Metric; Body material: Nickel Plated Brass; Approvals: None

Prestolok Composite – Characteristics: One piece push to connect fitting with glass reinforced black nylon body; Tube compatibility: Nylon Semi-rigid, Polyurethane, Nylon, Fluorpolymer, available in both inch and metric dimensions; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe, British Parallel Pipe, British Tapered Pipe, Metric; Body material: Silicone free glass reinforced nylon; Approvals: None

PrestoWeld – Characteristics: Push to connect fittings that are weld splatter resistant and silicone free to meet the requirements of the robotic welding industry; Tube compatibility: Parker Microweld tubing; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe, British Tapered Pipe; Body material: Nickel plated brass; Approvals: None

ALL METAL PUSH IN FITTINGS

True Seal – Characteristics: All metal push to connect fittings manufactured from Brass materials; Tube compatibility: Brass in inch dimension and metric; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe, Barb; Body material: brass, stainless steel; Approvals: FDA, NSF-51 for food contact, NSF-61 for drinking water.

Fast & Tite – Characteristics: Compression style all metal FDA approved fitting; Tube compatibility: Brass, stainless Steel, available in inch and metric dimension; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe; Body material: brass, stainless steel; Approvals: FDA, NS-51 for food contact.

Par-Barb – Characteristics: Nickel plated push in fittings from high strength brass material; Tube compatibility: Vinyl, Polyurethane, Rubber Hose; Thread availability: Male pipe; Body material: All brass, Stainless steel lock claw; Approvals: FDA, NS-51 for food contact.

BARBED FITTINGS

Dubl-Barb – Characteristics: Compact one piece, push on barbed fitting; Tube compatibility: Parker Polyethylene tubing; Thread compatibility: Male pipe, Female pipe, SAE Straight Thread; Body material: Brass; Approvals: None

Hose Barb – Characteristics: Manufactured in both regular hose barb and beaded hose barb styles; Tube compatibility: Rubber Hose, GPH Hose, hose clamps required; Thread availability: Male pipe, Female pipe, SAE Straight Thread, Metric; Body material: Brass; Approvals: None