Source for pneumatic fittings?

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I need to reconfigure the pneumatic solenoids in my CNC machine. These control the rotary pneumatic actuator for the spindle gear selection and the power drawbar engagement piston.

The fittings are 1/4" tube with a 7/12" thread from what I can see (this is a 1980s machine). It has plastic tube which I assume is Nylon or similar. The olives(?) can't be reused so I need to obtain some new ones and I may need some new tubing. The solenoids themselves (labelled "Schrader Bellows&quot appear to be fine so I should be able to reuse them. I've seen stuff like this before, so I assume it's an industry standard to some extent.

I'm no expert on these systems and the first step seemed to be to identify likely components, so I looked on the RS site. Yeh yeh, I know that isn't the ideal place to source stuff like this on many fronts but even so, I wasted about 1/4 hour trying to find the simplest part. It seems that what I believed to be an "olive" is actually a "sleeve". WTF?? Silly me.

So – firstly is it me or are they really called sleeves? And more importantly, could anyone recommend somewhere for me to obtain fittings? I don't need vast quantities but I'd like a decent selection to choose from, half reasonable prices and good, fast service. Probably not RS then.

Murray

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

Murray, I still call them olives, and I have a tin full, however there are a few variations in shape depending on whose fittings they are to fit. I have loads of Enots olives. One of the popular makers were and still are I suppose, Enots, and I have a tin full of fittings as well. if for example you wanted some 1/8" BSP elbows with nuts and olives for 1/4" tube I can help you. Nowadays one would be using push in fittings, with 6mm tube instead of 1/4". If you wanted to update to that I can help you too, provided we are only talking a few. I may have some tube as well. PM me with a more detailed list of what you need and I will have a look.

Chris Gunn

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

"Olives" are only recognised by the "Older" (at least 64years old) storemen on the trade counters of Pneumatic equipment suppliers Murray. RS and many other companies are so far up themselves with descriptions generated by those who can't recognise the open end of a spanner.

Wonder what a "Long stand" or a "bucket of steam" is now called?

Regards Ian.

[Split PinParticipant @splitpin]

The fittings look like they are "Enots" quite common before the modern push in variety. Each individulal part was sold seperately

Google throws up some suppliers still listing imperial sizes.

Steve

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Posted by Circlip on 31/03/2017 11:20:12:

Wonder what a "Long stand" or a "bucket of steam" is now called?

Regards Ian.

Haha, sky hook, tartan paint…

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Although retired from the Instrument and Control game, I still refer to them as olives, whether fitted to Nylon pneumatic tubing or mild steel/stainless steel piping….they are still the same to me…As is a bucket of sparks.

As for a bucket of steam, doesnt exist, steam cant be seen, its the water droplets we see…yes I'm being pedantic….( I did work at a power station during my time with steam boilers running at 1800 psi..) got nothing better to do at the moment, so just cause a little mischief..

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Haha, sky hook, tartan paint…

Bucket of sparks for the grinder, a gallon of 10 thou backlash oil ("we havn't got any 10 thou in stock – go back & see if 2 gallons of 5 thou oil will do &quot etc. etc.

Nigel B

[Nick HulmeParticipant @nickhulme30114]

Lots of plastic tube, push fit and olive type fittings used to be used in truck air brake systems, they may have all gone metric by now though?

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Modern pubs seem to use miles of plastic pipe and all sorts of olives etc. Got my last ones when I happened to be in the bar when a fitter came.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

7/12″ thread ?
Trying to work out what you meant to type

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Stevenson on 31/03/2017 15:57:56:
7/12" thread ?
Trying to work out what you meant to type

.

It is [of course] a wild guess, John

But maybe 7/16"

[7/16-20 is a common size for such fittings]

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Muzzer on 31/03/2017 10:37:19:

… It seems that what I believed to be an "olive" is actually a "sleeve". WTF?? Silly me.

So – firstly is it me or are they really called sleeves?

.

Yes, they really are called sleeves **LINK**

https://www.imi-precision.com/uk/en/search/q/sleeve

It's logical enough: 'Olives' are olive-shaped, and these are not.

… Sorry to be a bore

MichaelG.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

The fittings are better is you can replace them with newer push fit type, most fittings were bsp thread that I used in the 1980's but replacements are available now and fit new tube without olives etc of a metric size which is low priced and it helps to use more than one colour. Just look in local yellow pages for pneumatic supplies there are a few near to where I live and cheaper than RS as you can ask questions and buy only the amount you need not packets of 5 or 10 etc. If you need any further information PM to me.

David

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Can pneumatic fittings be used with gas (LPG)?

Mick

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Loads of 1/4" olives on Ebay from singles to 1000 off

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Murray,

You will find a useful Norgren catalogue here: **LINK**

http://www.thoritedirect.co.uk/download/493d-9a89-8f20-41cb-78a5-553e-0898-9087/

The 'Universal Tubing Sleeve' is illustrated near the end of the document.

MichaelG.

.

P.S. … it appears that the RS price is about standard:

http://www.thoritedirect.co.uk/products/fittings/imi_norgren_fittings/enots_brass_compression_fittings/34_imperial_series/sleeves/imi_norgren_enots_imperial_compression_fitting_tubing_sleeve_metalnylon_tube/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 01/04/2017 08:30:25

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

A good many trucks use pneumatic fittings like that, gear box, clutch throttle, seat(driver for the use of)rise and fall, windscreen wipers. I was helping a mate do a restoration on a 1980s Mack truck, there were air lines every where. Maybe a truck garage can help.

The Mack only had about 800,000 ml on the clock.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 01/04/2017 11:48:36

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

John, I think Muzzer meant to type 7/16", the 1/4" tubing nuts are a ball hair under 7/16" O/D.

Chris Gunn

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