Custom-Made Hydraulic Parts

Where standard products are not the answer, custom adapters, nipples, hydraulic manifolds, flange blocks and transition parts are produced from a sample, a technical drawing or dimensional data. Typical needs include a part for equipment that is no longer manufactured, an adapter that combines two different thread standards in a single body, an angled transition that must fit into a tight installation space, or a transition body that replaces several fittings and tubes with a single block. The parts are machined on CNC lathes from AISI 316/316L round and hex bar.

What we need for a custom part

• Sample, dimensioned technical drawing or dimensional data: if there is no drawing, we can start from a sample or from clear photos taken with a caliper in the frame.
• Material requirement: 316 or 316L; 316L if the part will be welded.
• Quantity and operating conditions: pressure, fluid, temperature and installation orientation.
• Connection standards: the thread standard, size and sealing type of each port.

What should a good technical drawing include?

Critical diameters and tolerances, the thread designation of each port (such as G 1/2, 1/2-14 NPT, 3/4-16 UNF or M18x1.5), the shape and surface finish of the sealing surfaces, wrench flats, port orientations and installation clearances. The sealing surface and the thread are as decisive as the dimensions; when port size, connection direction and installation clearance are all clearly defined on the same drawing, production becomes more predictable.

Manufacturing to drawing: the process

1. Technical review: size, material, quantity and operating conditions are reviewed; manufacturability is checked against the sample or technical drawing.
2. Written confirmation: the thread standard, sealing type and critical dimensions are confirmed in writing before production.
3. First article: for series quantities, the first article is machined first; series production begins after dimensional inspection and approval.
4. Inspection and shipping: thread fit, diameters, surfaces and the sealing area are inspected; the ports are closed with protective caps and the parts are prepared for shipment.

Making parts from a sample

When manufacturing from a worn sample, the original dimension is determined by comparing the amount of wear with the dimensions of the mating part. Indicating which surfaces of the sample wore during operation and which remained original speeds up this determination. For series quantities, dimensional variation between batches is prevented by checking the dimensions approved on the first article in every batch.

Lead time

Custom-size and project manufacturing is typically scheduled within 10-20 business days after technical approval. A dimensional change made after approval shifts the schedule; that is why having the critical dimensions clearly defined from the start shortens the lead time.

Which industries use them?

Flanges and transition parts produced to technical drawings in the defense industry, connections for ground support and test equipment in aviation, hard-to-find parts for foreign-made equipment on ships and in shipyards, spare parts for older machines in rolling mills and board mills, and non-standard port conversions in chemical plants.