Essential pneumatic fittings for critical applications
Pneumatic fittings, sometimes referred to as compressed air connectors, are essential to the operation of any pressurized air system. These fittings ensure secure, reliable connections between tubing and other components, vital for efficient compressed air system performance. To ensure you select the appropriate pneumatic fittings, it is essential to understand the various types and their intended applications.
How to select pneumatic fittings?
The right pneumatic fittings are essential for maximizing both the performance and the service life of your system. Before choosing pneumatic fittings, you should consider the following:
Connection requirements for pneumatic systems
The required connection type is determined by the complexity of your pneumatic system. We recognize the following types of connections:
- Simple connection
- Multiple connection
Requirements determined by application and environment
Your pneumatic fitting requirements will depend on the specific application and operating environment. Consider these application and environmental factors:
- General purpose applications: Fittings designed for standard industrial applications
- Corrosion resistance: Stainless-steel pneumatic fittings that resist to contact with moisture, or harsh environments.
- Weather resistance: Fittings suitable for use in extreme weather environments
- Food safety compliance (FDA): These fittings, made with FDA-compliant materials, are ideal for food and beverage processing equipment
- Antistatic: Fittings designed to prevent the accumulation of static electricity
- Clean room: Oil-free fittings and high-purity fluoropolymer hyper fittings specifically designed for cleanroom environments
- Rotary applications: Fittings suitable for rotating equipment or applications involving movement
Fitting material
When selecting fittings, consider your application's requirements to determine the appropriate material:
- Fitting material for general industrial use:
- PBT
- Brass
- Nickel-plated brass
- Fitting material for environments where corrosion and frequent wash-downs are a concern:
- Fitting material designed for use in specialized environments, like clean rooms, applications with electrostatic charge, and areas subject to harsh weather:
Fitting connection type
- Threaded fittings
- Tube-to-tube fittings
- Adapters
Fitting shape
- Straight fittings
- Elbow fittings
- Other shapes: T-shaped fittings, Y-shaped,...
Thread size and/or tube diameter
Pneumatic fittings are manufactured in a range of sizes to ensure compatibility with different thread sizes and tube diameters.
One-Touch Fittings: The Easy Way to Connect Pneumatics
One-touch fittings simplify pneumatic connections with their quick, tool-less design. Essential across industries for their ease of use, reliability, and time-saving benefits, these fittings allow for rapid push-in connections. SMC's one-touch fittings are particularly popular due to their wide range of options, including various types and sizes to accommodate different tubing diameters. Their compact design makes them ideal for confined spaces, and their secure push-to-connect mechanism ensures a tight seal, even in vacuum applications.
To find the optimal fitting for your specific requirements, use our navigation system organized by functionality.
