We have manufactured manifolds for many years at Focused on Machining, but recently, some of our aerospace machining customers have brought us increasingly sophisticated designs. These parts will be integrated into their fuel systems, and the complexity of these modern rocket parts has pushed our capabilities forward.
By taking on these projects, we’ve developed comprehensive expertise in manufacturing manifolds. Find out how we’ve learned to efficiently deliver these critical parts, and why our investments in tooling and process improvement allow us to maintain competitive pricing and lead times.
Understanding Complexity in Modern Manifolds
At their core, manifolds are parts that move fluids or gases through internal passages between multiple ports. But what marks the difference between common and complex manifolds? Some of the most typical characteristics include:
Hole quantity: Some projects become difficult simply due to the sheer scale, with a large number of holes requiring careful execution.
Varying port size: These designs require us to manage multiple custom tools and processes for a single part.
Tight tolerances and finishing: When tight tolerance machining combines with challenging finishing requirements in manifolds, coordination and planning with vendors become critical to remain within tolerance.
Advanced Tooling and Equipment for Greater Efficiency
Ports in aerospace manifolds are not simple through holes—instead, they’re defined by specification numbers, often simple Military Specification (MS) numbers. These numbers represent detailed underlying information and must be carefully interpreted to understand a design’s exact requirements.
Early in our journey with complex manifolds, we strategically invested in custom port tools that incorporate all necessary geometry in a single, precise tool. As we’ve mastered the use of these tools, we’ve dramatically improved our efficiency and consistency.
Beyond tooling, our horizontal machining center, equipped with a full fourth-axis rotary, has several capabilities ideal for manifold manufacturing:
Machining multiple faces in a single operation
Drilling intersecting holes in one operation for superior accuracy
Accommodating larger manifolds without multiple setups
Performing lights-out machining, particularly with aluminum components
Beyond Machining: Our Extended Finishing Network
While precision machining is our core expertise, complex manifolds often require specialized finishing processes. We have relationships with finishing vendors who share our commitment to excellence.
By allowing Focused on Machining to manage all of your finishing, you simplify your project and gain access to vetted partners from our trusted network. Some of the most common finishing services include anodizing and chemical film treatments with precision masking.
Anodizing, in particular, can be a complex process and require careful planning to ensure final measures stay within tolerance. At Focused on Machining, we plan closely with our vendors to ensure quality results.
Bring Us Our Next Challenge in Complex Manifolds
If you’re in search of a manifold manufacturer or any other machined part, let’s discuss your next project. Our decades of experience, specialized tooling, and advanced machines allow us to deliver quality every time. From electropolishing services to titanium machining, we’re ready to partner on your next project and deliver high-quality results.
Request a quote today to discover how our CNC machine shop can transform your challenges with complex manifolds into precision solutions!