Fluidic elements are manufactured in various ways such as injection
moulding, epoxy casting and from photo-sensitive ceramic and plastics.
Most of the initial work on elements has been carried out using Dycril
because of its ease in processing and the equipment required is fairly
cheap and simple. Many companies have then developed satisfactory
designs using Dycril and used them as ‘masters' in other production
processes.
Most users of Dycril have reported that nozzle widths of less than 0.015in
cannot be satisfactorily etched from 0.040in thick Dycril. Various
methods of etching have been tried at Cranfield and this report outlines
some of the difficulties encountered and suggests a standard pattern to
be followed from the drawings of the master at ten times full size
through to the complete element