1.Raw Material Preparation & Inspection
The whole production process implements strict raw material quality control. All incoming steel bars and billets are fully
inspected in chemical composition, mechanical properties and material test reports to ensure full compliance with standard requirements. After passing strict inspection, qualified raw materials are precisely cut into standard forging blanks according to the size specification of hexagonal nipple, providing high-quality blanks for subsequent forging and processing.
2.Hot Forging & Shaping
The qualified blanks are heated to standard forging temperature by industrial heating furnace, and integrally forged and shaped by hydraulic forging equipment. The integral hot forging process accurately forms the middle hexagonal body and two-end cylindrical structure of the nipple. The forged blank features dense internal organization, uniform texture and high overall strength. After forming, trimming and deburring are carried out to remove redundant flash, ensuring regular workpiece outline and accurate benchmark size.
3.Heat Treatment & Surface Cleaning
According to different material grades and pressure-level requirements, all forged hexagonal nipples undergo standardized heat treatment including annealing, normalizing or quenching and tempering. This process completely eliminates internal forging stress,stabilizes mechanical performance, and greatly improves pressure resistance and structural toughness. After heat treatment,shot blasting or sand blasting is adopted to thoroughly remove surface oxide scales and impurities, obtaining a smooth and clean forging surface.
4.Precision Machining & Thread Processing
Professional precision machining is performed on the hexagonal body, outer circle and end faces to ensure flatness, concentricity and dimensional accuracy. Tapered threads at both ends are finely processed in strict accordance with ASME B1.20.1 standards,supporting NPT and BSPT standard thread types. All thread tolerances and fitting dimensions are precisely controlled to ensure tight sealing, accurate connection and easy on-site assembly and disassembly.
5.Strict Testing & Marking
All finished hexagonal nipples pass comprehensive dimensional inspection covering hexagon size, outer diameter, total length and thread specification. For high-pressure engineering requirements, optional non-destructive testing such as UT, MPI and PT is available to eliminate internal and surface defects. Qualified products are permanently stamped with company logo, material grade,heat number, pressure class and execution standard to achieve full product traceability.
6.Surface Treatment & Finished Packaging
According environment and customer demands, finished products are treated with anti-rust and anti-corrosion processes including black oxide, galvanization and anti-rust oil coating. After strict final visual inspection to exclude cracks, thread damage and appearance defects, qualified products are packed in standard plywood cases or wooden crates. Standard packaging effectively prevents collision, rust and deformation during long-distance sea transportation, ensuring intact and safe delivery.