Controlled Fluidics - Connecticut Office

From the earliest days of the pandemic, Controlled Fluidics put safety and social distancing measures into place. However, we couldn’t shut down or slow down production since our business supports multiple companies involved in respirator production and patient testing for the Covid-19 virus. From face shields to micro-titration plates to high-performance magnet plates, our team feels fortunate to be able to aid in the fight against the virus in this way.

Bonded manifolds and machined plastics have a wide range of uses in the Aerospace, Defense, Military, Life Science, Medical, and Space Flight industries. For example, manifolds are often used in blood analyzers, women’s health instruments, plastic surgery tools, and dental drills.

We pressure test your manifolds upon request. Controlled Fluidics produces high-quality products. We have yet to experience a field failure in any of our manifolds from delamination or cross-talk.

For pneumatics, acrylic is an excellent choice. For liquids, polycarbonate is popular. Polycarbonate is slightly more expensive than acrylic, with better chemical resistance and temperature range. Our engineers work closely with clients through every step of the design process, which includes recommendations on the best materials for your project.

No. We maintain size and position.

Our bond strength is near parent-material strength. Threads and channel outlets on the bond line are okay.

Inserts make sense for manifolds that are repeatedly disassembled for servicing. Metal inserts will tolerate repeated torqueing better than plastic ones will. For single assembly situations, a plastic thread is reliable. For very small threads, we recommend inserts for every application (i.e. 0-80 and 2-56). Helicoils add stress to the finished manifold, and Controlled Fluidics does not recommend them for inclusion in your manifold design.

We have successfully produced manifolds with channels as close as 0.5 mm.

Pressure specifications are highly design dependent. Our manifolds have been successfully run to over 500 psi in the channels.

Yes, we can! As each application is unique, so please contact engineering to discuss your project details.

Our standard lead-time is four weeks for most two-layer manifolds. Complex projects (above two layers) will require additional time. If time is of the essence, we do have a Rapid Response prototype service that can deliver laminated manifolds in two weeks or less.

Our technology allows us to build very precise, intricate plastic manifolds. We prefer full round channels, and features maintain their shape through the bonding process. Our specialties are reservoirs and accumulators integral to a manifold. Our prices are also competitive, with minimal NRE/tooling cost for new projects, and you can expect a quick response on quotes.

Theoretically, sky's the limit! Practically, though, six layers is desirable since fallout rate and costly installation damage can occur with a single large manifold. Often, it is wise to divide very large and complex manifold designs into two separate manifolds, or consider building each layer 1.5 mm below standard imperial sizes. This method can save you money, both in upfront and maintenance costs.

Yes, they are. Controlled Fluidics bonds a number of different types of components into multi-layer manifolds. We also are able to obtain a leak-proof seal around components. However, please note that the components will not be serviceable after bonding.

Channels can be single sided or double sided. Channel shapes are square, “D” shape, or full round. We recommend full round channels for best flow characteristics with minimum particle entrapment. The cost of the additional machining for full round channels is minimal for the average laminated manifold.

Channels for microfluidics can be as small as 100 microns. For larger fluidic devices, 0.5 mm to 3 mm is common.

A bonded manifold is a good choice for customers looking for the smallest manifold envelope size while integrating the maximum number of components at a single location. This technology allows the engineers to achieve device-size reduction while also reducing complexity. Additionally, top-mounted designs are the simplest to conceptualize and place into a workspace, with convenient tubing and all hardware easily accessible.

Price varies by the number of layers, material choice, channel size, feature density, and other factors. There is no general pricing, as manifold costs are design-dependent. Due to the plastic bonding process, a bonded manifold is typically more expensive than a comparable drill manifold. However, the bonding process allows for geometries that would be difficult, if not impossible, in a drilled manifold. From a total-system-design viewpoint, the cost of ownership is competitive.