Application Guide 05

Industrial &
Pneumatics

Instrumentation fittings, pneumatic connectors, valve components, and compressed air systems — alloy selection for the broadest range of industrial applications.

High-Volume CNC Pneumatic Systems Instrumentation Compressed Air
Industrial Brass Overview

The Widest Application Space

Industrial and pneumatic applications represent the largest and most diverse category for brass fittings. Unlike potable water (strict lead limits) or EEE (RoHS), industrial brass is governed primarily by pressure and media compatibility requirements — with lead regulations applying only at the end-of-life recycling stage.

This gives greater alloy flexibility: CW617N at 100% machinability remains the workhorse for instrumentation and pneumatic fittings where RoHS does not apply. The priority is cost-per-part through maximum machining throughput.

Key metric: For a 1-million-part/year pneumatic connector program, the difference between CW617N (100%) and CW724R (80%) in cycle time alone can represent hundreds of thousands of euros in annual production cost.
Grade Ranking

Industrial Priority: Machinability

CW617N — General purpose100%
CW614N — Surface finish critical95%
CW625N — Better ductility72%
CW612N — Lower Pb65%
CW607N — DZ-resistant (low Zn)65%
CW724R — Lead-free80%
Component Matrix

Industrial & Pneumatic Applications

ComponentRecommended AlloyReason
Push-in pneumatic connector bodyCW617N100% machinability for million-unit runs; tight tolerance bores
Hydraulic compression fittingCW617NStandard grade; pressure-rated per DIN EN 1254
Instrumentation tube fittingCW617N / CW614NCW614N for superior surface finish on sealing faces
Solenoid valve bodyCW617NComplex internal porting — maximum machinability essential
Flow control bodyCW625NHigher Cu for better corrosion resistance; cold-workable
Marine hardwareCuZn40Architectural grade for exposed fittings; lead-free
Industrial water valve (DZR req.)CW602NDZR-certified; non-potable water circuits
Cooling tower fittingCW602N / CW724RDZR for aggressive recirculation water; CW724R for lead-free
Gas meter fittingC27450Low Pb (≤0.09%), RoHS-free, adequate machinability (55%)
Structural bracket / extrusionCuZn40 / CW510LHigh-Zn for hot-extruded structural profiles; lead-free
Pneumatic Systems

CW617N is Standard

Push-in pneumatic fittings, manifold blocks, solenoid valve bodies, and compressed air connectors are the highest-volume brass CNC segment globally. CW617N's 100% machinability is the single most important selection factor.

Compressed air compatibility: all standard brass alloys are compatible with clean, oil-lubricated, or oil-free compressed air. No special alloy is required for standard air quality (ISO 8573-1 Class 1-7).
Instrumentation

CW614N for Finish

Instrumentation fittings (Swagelok-type, compression tube fittings, bite-type) require exceptional surface finish on sealing surfaces. CW614N (95% machinability, highest Pb at 2.5–3.5%) achieves the finest surface finish of all leaded brasses.

For instrumentation fittings in non-EEE, non-potable-water applications, CW614N provides the best surface quality with only marginal reduction in machinability vs CW617N.
Water Systems

CW607N Natural DZR

CW607N (CuZn36Pb2) has ~36% Zn — below the threshold where dezincification becomes a serious risk in most water conditions. For industrial water circuits where a formal DZR rating is not required but better DZ resistance is wanted, CW607N is a practical choice.

For formal DZR qualification (ISO 6509-1 certification required), specify CW602N or CW724R instead of CW607N.
Industrial Precision

High-volume. Tight tolerances. Fast.

Brassland specialises in pneumatic and instrumentation fittings at scale — from prototypes to 5-million-unit annual programs, with EN 10204 3.1 material traceability on every order.

Discuss Your Program CW617N Datasheet
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FAQ

Industrial & pneumatic brass — common questions

Which brass is used for pneumatic and instrumentation fittings?
Free-machining CW617N and CW614N are the standard choice for push-in, compression and instrumentation fittings — clean threads, tight tolerances and the lowest cycle times on CNC and Swiss machines.
Which brass is best for high-volume CNC machining?
CW614N (CuZn39Pb3, ~3% lead) is the most machinable brass — the 100% benchmark — giving the shortest cycle times and best chip control; CW617N (CuZn40Pb2, ~2% lead) follows at about 95%.
Is there a lead-free option for industrial fittings?
Yes — CW724R silicon brass (lead 0.1% or less) where RoHS-free or low-lead parts are required, at roughly 80% of the machinability of leaded brass.
Can brass fittings handle compressed-air and pressure systems?
Yes. Brass is widely used for compressed-air and pneumatic fittings; a part's pressure rating comes from its wall thickness and design, verified against the specification you supply.
From Guide to Production

Need industrial parts made?

This guide covers alloy selection. To have components machined to your drawing, see the matching manufacturing pages:

Sources & References

Verify this datasheet against the primary source

Composition ranges, mechanical properties, machinability ratings and regulatory data on this page are cross-referenced against the publishers below. Tolerances and minimum values are taken from the relevant published standard at the time of writing — for procurement specification, always reference the current published edition.

Copper Development Association
CDA alloy database — composition & properties
European Copper Institute
Copper Alliance EU — alloy designation system
MatWeb
Independent material property database
SteelNumber.com
EN material designation cross-reference
CEN / CENELEC
EN 12164, EN 12165, EN 12167, EN 12420
ASTM International
ASTM B16, B124, B283, B371 specifications
ISO 6509-1:2014
Dezincification test method (CuCl₂)
EU RoHS Directive 2011/65
Annex III Exemption 6(c) — valid to 30 Jun 2027
ECHA REACH SVHC List
Lead is on the candidate list (Article 33)
WRAS (UK)
Water Regulations Advisory Scheme approval search
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61
Drinking water system components (US/CA)
Brassland — Standards Guide
Plain-English explainer for every standard above

Last reviewed: May 2026. EN/ISO/ASTM standards are updated periodically. This datasheet reflects the editions listed; for safety-critical or contract-critical applications, always verify against the current published edition of the standard. For project-specific deviations or supplier-specific composition windows, request a Type 3.1 mill certificate (EN 10204) with your order.