SINGLE-LAYER & DRILLED MANIFOLDS

For teams seeking a lower cost, easier to design manifold solution, drilled/single-layer manifolds may be the answer. Drilled manifolds are as it sounds: created by machining alone and no layering used. Machining approaches typically utilize mills and drills to create channels and ports for flow.

• Flexible Material Choices

  Teams have the freedom in selecting the right material choice given strength, chemical, temperature etc. requirements.

• Simplicity in Design

  Manifolds can be a simple block of plastic with drilled holes allowing for a single input being split into multiple outputs.

• Fully Customizable

  Adaptable and versatile, single-layer/drilled manifolds offer several options to create the highest quality product. 

• Limited Geometries

  Tooling here often limits design layout to straight lines created by the machines, which can reduce design possibilities. However, we mitigate this concern through drilling and plugging processes.

• Drill Depths

  Teams must carefully consider the ability of drill to form proper holes as the L/D ratio increases. Size, finish and straightness can degrade as the L/D ratio increases.

• Imperfections Within Channels

  Intersecting holes can harbor chips or other imperfections within the channels that can hinder a material's flow. Polishing and other finishing techniques can help to abate this risk. 

Deciding on the right choices marks often an early decision point for teams in fluidic system design and depends on each project. Overall design, cost, and considering the product's purpose all play an important role. These are things to consider when it comes to drilled manifolds.