Corrugated Inner Core: often made of stainless steel (316L, SS321) which provides flexibility and corrosion resistance. Braid: A wire braided mesh sleeve on the outside that reinforces the hose to handle high pressure and prevent elongation. End Fittings: Welded fitting (flanges, threads, couplings) that allow the hose to connect to piping systems.

There are many different types of flanges that can be used including: Raised Face Slip-on, Fixed Flat faced, Fixed weld Neck flanges. There are also floating flanges which are essential to make it easier to install the metal hoses, especially when they are long. Lining up the holes in the flanges with the bolts in the machinery can be tricky. The choice depends on what it is connecting to and what type of flange is the connecting flange.

#150 (150 pound), #300 (300 pound) and many others. These are not necessarily the pressures that the flanges can withstand, but rather a class designation with indicates the number of bolt holes, the thickness of the flange etc. The pressure is based on the temperature of the application. For each class and size of flange.

There are many differences, but the most prominent is pressure. Hydraulic fittings are designed to withstand higher pressures (sometimes up to 10000 psi), whereas plumbing fittings are designed for lower pressures such as 50-300 psi). There are other differences such as material, threading, sealing surfaces, etc.

Metal hoses are preferred over rubber in Extreme Temperatures such as high heat (up to 1200 °F) or cryogenic cold, Chemical compatibility when the media is too harsh for non-metallic hoses, Vacuum service metal hoses maintain their shape under full vacuum, Fire Safety metal hoses are non-combustible and won’t melt, Permeation gases cannot pass through the wall of the metal hose.

You will need to calculate the required live length (the flexible part) plus the length of the fittings. You must account for distance between endpoints (static installation), lateral offset (if the ends are not aligned), travelling loops (if the hose moves frequently). Note if the hose is too short it could fail prematurely due to stress.

Overbending: Bending the hose tighter than its minimum rated bend radius leads to fatigue failure. Torsional Stress (Twisting): Never twist a hose assembly during installation. Also using fixed-end fittings on both sides often causes twisting, use at least one floating (unions or lap joint flange) fittings. Vibration Resonance: If the frequency of the vibrating equipment matches the natural frequency of the hose, it will fail rapidly.

Annular hoses are corrugations consisting of a series of parallel, individual rings. These are generally better for high-pressure, flexible applications. Helical hoses are corrugations in a continuous spiral, similar to a screw thread, which is good for draining liquids.

Braid wear occurs when the exterior metal mesh rubs against something, wearing away the wires. If the braid is broken, frayed, or severely abraded, the hose should be replaced immediately, as the braid is all that holds the pressure.

A hose assembly with flanges is pressure tested to 1.5 times the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of the assembly. Aerocom performs these tests when requested, slowly increasing pressure to the test level and holding to check for leakage, bulges, or deformation in the hose or flanged connections.

Aerocom generally performs an air under water test on assemblies prior to them being shipped which is the recommended test in the industry. If that type of test is not possible, then liquid penetrant test of the fitting to hose welds is performed.

Evaluate the STAMPED criteria: Size, Temperature, Application, Media, Pressure, Ends (fittings), and Delivery. You must know the maximum temperature, the highest pressure spikes, and the chemical makeup of the media to select the correct core material, braid configuration, and end fittings.

The most common materials are 300-series stainless steels, typically 304, 316, or 321. The core is often made from a highly corrosion-resistant alloy like 316L, while the outer braid is typically 304 stainless steel, which provides excellent mechanical strength.