Identifying Fitting(s)

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Tom McCarthy
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Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Tom McCarthy »

A quick question on identifying fittings. Pictures below show ends from a Hastings-Teledyne HFM-300 mass flow controller that I'm looking at buying.

However, I'm not sure of what the fittings on both sides are. From the manual ( http://www.teledyne-hi.com/resourcecent ... Manual.pdf ) they can be:
Available fitting options (all tube fittings are 2 piece compression fittings)
Fitting Options............................................... ¼” tube, 1/8” tube, 6 mm tube, ¼” VCR®, ¼” VCO®,
9/16”-18 Female thread, Surface Mount
With a few Google searches, I think they fit the VCR or VCO bill, but can't be certain as I haven't seen any in the flesh.

Can anybody with a bit more experience identify what sort of fittings they are? Maybe they're not even identifiable from the pictures given.

Thanks,
Tom

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Steven Sesselmann
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Steven Sesselmann »

Tom,

I am pretty sure they are 1/8" Swagelok. These fittings are common and you most likely have a local distributor who can sell you the parts.

http://www.swagelok.com/en/catalog/Fitt ... anguage=en&

Steven
http://www.gammaspectacular.com - Gamma Spectrometry Systems
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Rich Feldman
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Rich Feldman »

What Steven said matches the "1/8 inch tube... dual compression fitting" item quoted by Tom.
To use them as intended, you need some short bits of 1/8" OD metal tube and a pair of compression ferrule sets.
It should be easy to go from plain 1/8" tube ends to thin plastic or rubber hose for your vacuum side and lecture bottle regulator side.

Or remove the Swagelok compression nuts & seal your metal tubes to the MFC ports with epoxy or chewing gum.
All models are wrong; some models are useful. -- George Box
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Steven Sesselmann
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Steven Sesselmann »

Rich,

Any partiular brand of low vapour pressure chewing gum ?

Steven :)
http://www.gammaspectacular.com - Gamma Spectrometry Systems
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Steven_Sesselmann - Various papers and patents on RG
Tom McCarthy
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Tom McCarthy »

Ok, thanks for the help guys.

As for making use of it, Rich when you explain how to use them, is it just a matter of pushing in a 1/8" OD tube and tightening on the nut, as with any Swagelok fitting and then adapting to whatever I need from there on the 1/8" tube? Where does the need for the ferrules come from, should they not be within the assembly? :shock: Or is it that the ferrules wouldn't be included and need to be bought + inserted?

Tom
Jim Stead
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Jim Stead »

Tom, the ferrules are part of the swagelok assembly and are usually included, but they can be missing from used gear. You'd have to check with the seller to be sure. Each fitting takes a 2-piece ferrule set. Check ebay for "swagelok ferrule" to see examples.
Tom McCarthy
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Tom McCarthy »

Ah, got it Jim - eBay beware. Caveat emptor.

Tom
prestonbarrows
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by prestonbarrows »

Yup, looks like 1/8" swagelok.

If you see tapered surfaces at something like 30 degrees, this is standard swageloc hardware. This requires a standard insert that will permanently bond to the tube.
Image

If you see 90 degree surfaces with a rounded bulge, this is a VCR fitting (also made by swagelok).
Image
This requires a disposable copper gasket, similar to a conflat, that will not bond to either side.
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Rich Feldman
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Re: Identifying Fitting(s)

Post by Rich Feldman »

Here's an original photo to go with the excellent Parker drawing presented by Preston.
9860cr.PNG
I stumbled upon this piece of 1/4" tube and took it to meet a set of round gage pins. After the cutting burrs were removed, tube ends admitted a 0.181" pin but not 0.182". The largest pin that could go past the ferrules is 0.175".

The ferrules in picture can be spun by hand, but are never going to come off intact. I expect this tube termination could be re-used in the same fitting it came from. More experienced compression fitters might have opinions on using it with other fittings of same nominal type.
All models are wrong; some models are useful. -- George Box
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