Purchasing JIC Fittings and AN Fittings is not simply an “either/or” choice, but a systematic decision-making process that takes into account application scenarios, performance requirements, and cost budgets. This article provides a set of selection framework that can be directly implemented to help you avoid 90% of purchasing mistakes.

Clarify the core requirements: 3 key issues for self-checking

JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings Application Scenario Positioning

Industry type:

Aerospace/racing/military equipment → mandatory selection of AN standards (material traceability requirements)
Construction machinery/agricultural equipment → prioritize JIC (low cost + easy maintenance)
Laboratory hydraulic test bench → flexible selection based on pressure requirements

Environmental conditions:

High temperature corrosive environment → stainless steel (AN commonly used)
Lightweight requirements → Aluminum AN Fittings (40% lighter than steel)

JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings Technical Data Locking

Budget & Maintenance Cycle

Initial Cost: JIC price is about 50% 70% of AN (e.g. 1/2” fitting JIC $15 vs AN $25)
Full life cycle cost:
High-frequency maintenance scenarios (e.g. agricultural machinery) → JIC is more economical
Longer maintenance free cycles (e.g. aviation hydraulics) → AN is more cost effective.

JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings Selection

Measurement of existing system parameters

Thread specification:
🔧 JIC measured in Imperial (e.g. 1/4” 20 UNF)
🔩 AN with Dash numbering (e.g. AN4 corresponds to 1/4″)
Seal Face Inspection:
Use 37° angle gauge to check taper wear, deviation >0.5° requires replacement

JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings Material Selection Decision Tree

Corrosive environment? → yes → choose 316 stainless steel Fittings
↓ No
No → Light weight required? → Yes → Aluminum AN
↓ No → Carbon steel JIC (surface galvanized)
No → Carbon steel JIC (galvanized surface)

JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings Small batch test validation

Test items:

1. pressure cycling test (3 times the working pressure, 1000 cycles)
2. shaker simulation (frequency 50200Hz for 8 hours)
3. compatibility check (mixing of existing fittings for leakage)

JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings Practical Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls: 5 Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Buying based on appearance alone
Typical Consequence: AN6 and JIC 3/8” thread mismatch causing installation breakage.
The right thing to do: Bring the old fitting or a threaded sample to the site for comparison.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material
Case: Aluminum AN fittings used in 200℃ oil temperature system → seal failure
Remedy: Mandatory use of stainless steel in high temperature scenarios

Mistake 3: Over-reliance on adapters
Risk: Every additional adapter increases the probability of leakage by 20
Alternative: Redesign the piping layout to reduce the number of connections

Mistake 4: Tighten torque values by feel
Data Support:
JIC 1/2″20 UNF → 3540 N-m
AN6 → 4550 N-m
Tool recommendation: Norbar 15100 N-m digital torque wrench (error ± 1%)

Mistake 5: Purchasing products without lot traceability
Lesson learned: A drone company used non-traceable AN connectors, resulting in a 30% spike in the hydraulic failure rate of the entire aircraft.
Verification method: Require suppliers to provide material lot reports (MTRs)

Alternative Programs for Emergency Situations

Scenario: Temporary substitution when AN fittings are out of stock

1. Short-term scenario:
   Use JIC fittings + transition sleeves (e.g. Parker 322044 series)
   System pressure needs to be reduced to 70% of the original design
2. Monitoring indicators:
   Check for leaks every 8 hours
   Immediate shutdown for 15% increase in vibration amplitude

Conclusion: Remember the 3 golden rules

1. Military/aeronautics must choose AN certification, industrial scenarios preferred JIC
2. Purchase cost ≠ total life cycle cost, high-frequency maintenance equipment, choose JIC to save money.
3. Mixed use must be pressure testing, no certification = high risk.

Mastering this methodology, you will completely get rid of the anxiety of choosing JIC Fittings vs AN Fittings, and directly hit the optimal solution.