CONTROLLED FLUIDICS: THE INSIDER'S INFO

Get the information that only few people know about Controlled Fluidics through this post. Principal & President Tom Rohlfs goes into some little-known details about the inner workings of the company. 

A lot can change over thirty years, and plastic machining and manifolds are no exception. To say Controlled Fluidics engineers have seen the precision plastic machining industry change is a gross understatement.

Today, we use cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and new polymers to create components destined for applications that were still in the realm of science fiction in 1980. We take great pride in embracing advances in plastic machining and passing the benefits of new technology into the hands of skilled professionals to our clients.

Clients in a variety of industries, from the defense industry to life sciences, trust our experienced engineering and machining team to create essential components. For example, our team has worked on various projects for the medical industry, like fluid-controlled manifolds. Liquid manifolds, along with the majority of medical industry components, have their own specific set of challenges that our engineers must overcome with design, machining, and material selection.

Controlled Fluidics engineers designed and machined components that demanded full swept volumes, low to no carryover, the ability to operate under high pressure, and chemical resistance. Fortunately, our engineers are experienced and creative. Their technical knowledge of design possibilities ensured that every client received a component that could withstand every operating environment challenge it would face.

The medical industry isn’t the only industry that presents environmental challenges. Many  precision machined plastic components and manifolds operate in high-stress conditions. Fortunately, informed material selection goes a long way toward ensuring a component can withstand its environment. Our engineers focus quite a bit of effort on staying on top of advances in polymers in order to recommend the best material for every client’s project.

Our list of available materials is constantly expanding, but we do notice some materials maintain their popularity year after year. Acrylic is one such example. Our clients appreciate that acrylic is easy to bond, has excellent optical properties, and is a low-cost option. COC and COP are also increasing in popularity, in no small part thanks to their chemical resistance and low water absorption, and we expect that to continue in the coming years.

Design and material selection are important, but skilled machining professionals using cutting-edge technologies are critical parts of any successful project.

At Controlled Fluidics, we are particularly proud of our 5th axis capability. 5th axis technology allows us to achieve single part flow and better throughput with the best accuracy. Maximizing our speed and efficiency means that our clients benefit from faster turnaround and cost savings. We believe that 5th axis technology is the future of machining.

We’re excited about the new opportunities, technology, and applications coming our way in the future. We’ll continue to draw upon the decades-long experience to meet new challenges in innovative ways while still delivering the high quality our clients have come to expect from a Controlled Fluidics plastic component.

If you would like to discuss your precision plastic machining or manifold project with our expert engineers, get in touch. We’re happy to work with you to determine how Controlled Fluidics can make your project a success.