Types Of Steel Flanges

One of the most important elements of any machine, business or structure are the parts that hold it together. Whether you need to connect pipes or ducts, or need to support overhead structures, the right type of flange can be crucial to your success and your reputation as an engineer or business owner. But with so many types of steel flanges on the market today, how do you know which will work best for your project? Here are just some of the most common steel flanges available today, along with their characteristics and uses.

Top 6 Types Of Stainless Steel Flanges

1) Weld Neck Flanges

This is a type of flange that has an opening or slot to allow an arc welding machine to penetrate into it for welding. They are made out of materials like carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, malleable iron and ductile iron.

2) Slip-On Type

Slip-on steel flanges are one type that can be used in practically any application. Their slip fit allows for easy assembly and disassembly, so they can be reused if necessary. They also require no pre-drilling, which is important in situations where there may not be access to power tools or heavy machinery.

3) Threaded Type

Threaded flanges are typically welded or screwed onto pipes or valves. They are less expensive than other types, but they don’t work well in corrosive environments because their threads can corrode in time. A standard threaded connection is made when you screw on a pipe using normal pipe fittings to make a gas-tight connection. You can weld your threaded flange if it will be exposed to high pressure for an extended period, which could destroy its threads.

4) Blind Type

In a blind flange, there is no hole on one side of it. Blind flanges are used with pipe systems where some kind of piping system is already set up. This type of flange is used to match up with a similar piping that you already have installed. You can also find screw-on type which uses its screws to hold things in place and then a blind cap covers it. These caps ensure that no unwanted substance comes into contact with your pipes inside it.

5) Lap Joint Flanges

A lap joint flange is a type of flat or ring-type flange used in a wide variety of piping applications, from water systems to gas pipelines. A lap joint flange has been crimped onto one end. On top of that crimp sits another piece called a sleeve which will then be welded to another pipe or fitting. In most cases, but not all, you’ll see steel rings at both ends where welding can take place.

6) Counter Bore Flanges

One other type that is different from all above flange types is counter bore flange. This kind of flange is mainly used to provide connection between two same size pipes. The main benefit of using counterbore flange over union or lap joint connections is that they have high resistance against corrosion due to lack of sharp edge.