cnc, medical, precision, rapid-prototype

CNC Machining for a Plastic Microfluidic Manifold

Point-of-Care Diagnostics Company, USA, Massachusetts

Plastic microfluidic manifold machining, addressing channel access, burr control, feature inspection, and customer-defined diagnostic equipment requirements.

Account owner: PiPrecision Engineering Team

The Challenge

The diagnostic manifold contained small fluidic channels whose geometry and edge condition needed to be considered together. Machining access, tooling, and deburring all affect how those channels can be produced and inspected in the selected plastic. The drawing also needed to distinguish component dimensions from the performance requirements of the assembled fluidic system. Flow validation and acceptance of the finished diagnostic device are separate from inspection of the machined manifold.

Our Solution

The machining approach used tooling selected for the channel geometry, together with a deburring process intended to address the channel edges. Inspection planning focused on the dimensions and edge conditions specified by the customer. For similar microfluidic components, the RFQ should include channel geometry, material grade, permitted edge conditions, cleanliness requirements, and the requested report format. The customer’s validation plan defines flow testing and acceptance of the assembled device.