Why Single-Use Components Matter: The Silent Heroes of Fluid Dispensing

Overview

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing landscape, precision and consistency are more critical than ever. When an assembly process requires fluid dispensing, repeatability can be a challenge. A lot of technical know-how, experience, and trial-and-error goes into finding the right fluid dispensing technology for each unique application.

A crucial piece of this fluid dispensing puzzle is the single-use component system, comprised of plastic consumables the fluid travels through before being dispensed. These, often small, components work hard to protect fluids, reduce fluid waste, improve accuracy, and so much more. It’s no wonder why these small components are truly the “Silent Heroes of Dispensing” in our minds at Nordson EFD.

The Evolution of Fluid Dispensing

Fluid dispensing has come a long way. During World War II, for example, wartime demands for lightweight, durable aircraft spurred significant advancements in adhesive technology. The drivers for the changeover from mechanical fastening to adhesive bonding were weight reduction, improved aesthetics, enhanced durability and strength, and streamline manufacturing to be more efficient, reducing assembly time and labor cost.

These early assembly processes typically used hand syringes, squeeze bottles, toothpicks, or anything else a company could find to dab or apply these fluids. Now, there are numerous methods that manufacturers rely on to apply adhesives, lubricants, epoxies, greases, sealants, coatings, and other fluids with precision. The shift from manual methods to automated systems has improved efficiency, reduced waste, and enhanced product quality.

The Power of Precision Fluid Dispensers

Today, air-powered dispensers are a staple in manufacturing facilities. These benchtop systems use timed air pressure and vacuum pullback to deliver consistent fluid amounts. Unlike manual applicators, which vary with operator fatigue and technique, air-powered dispensers ensure uniformity across shifts and operators. These dispensers can also be scaled up and mounted onto table-top automation depending on production needs. See what single-use components are used with benchtop fluid dispensers and how these pieces fit together in the image below.

Breaking Down Single-Use Dispensing Components

So, what are single-use components? Dispensing components are single use dispensing solutions that are often used by fluid formulators to package their materials for assembly applications. Manufacturers apply these materials in assembly processes that require bonding, sealing, coating, etc. A complete set of these components include:

• Optimum Syringe Barrel Adapter – Connects the syringe barrel to the dispenser and directs air pressure from the dispenser into the syringe barrel.
• Optimum Syringe Barrel Piston – Pushes fluid through the syringe barrel, minimizing waste and preventing backflow.
• Optimum Syringe Barrel – Holds the dispensing fluid and is available in different sizes and colors for different applications.
• Dispensing Tip – Directs fluid from the syringe barrel to the substrate with precision.

Syringe Barrel Options

Nordson EFD Optimum syringe barrels are offered in 3cc, 5cc, 10cc, 30cc, 55cc, and 70cc. While our clear barrels can be used for most fluids, our amber barrels block UV light for curing materials (*less than 12% visible light from 550 nm or less), and our black ones ensure complete light blockage. Optimum ECO dispensing syringe barrels are made from sustainably-sourced polyethylene for an eco-friendly option without sacrificing accuracy.

The Power of Dispensing Pistons

Syringe barrel pistons are an important component in a dispensing process that are used to:

• Wipe the sidewalls of a syringe barrel, resulting in less fluid waste
• Maintain consistent pressure on the fluid inside the syringe barrel
• Prevent air blowby during the dispensing process
• Allowing air to be purged during fluid packaging / filling

At Nordson EFD, we offer multiple styles of pistons for a specialized solution for every type of fluid and application, ensuring better control and quality results. Click here to learn more about our piston options.

Tackling Piston Bounce

Piston bounce, also known as “pogo sticking”, describes a situation where the piston inside of a syringe bounces up and down inside the syringe, which can affect dispensing accuracy. It’s often caused by air bubbles or improper piston fit. Solutions include centrifuging the fluid or choosing alternative piston designs better tailored to the fluid’s viscosity and behavior.

Nordson EFD’s orange flatwall piston is designed with no wipers, eliminating piston bounce. The tradeoff is that it leaves residue on the sidewalls of the syringe barrel. This would be a fine option if the fluid you’re using isn’t very costly. Another option would be our beige piston, which has a loose fit, reducing piston bounce and providing some wiping of the sidewalls.

Lastly, our clear flex piston is made from a lower density material that reduces piston bounce. As with most fluid dispensing components, the type of piston you use depends on the type of fluid you are dispensing. For more information about piston bounce, check our FAQ here or watch the video below to see what piston bounce looks like and ways to prevent it.

The Role of Dispensing Tips

With 14 types of dispensing tips available, Nordson EFD offers solutions for every application. From general-purpose tips with plastics hubs and steel cannulas to smooth-flow taper tips for medium- to high-viscosity fluids and PTFE-lined tips for low-viscosity fluids and cyanoacrylates to name a few. Each tip is engineered by experts to meet specific fluid and precision requirements. For information on which tips work for each fluid type, click here.

Cartridges for Automation

Optimum cartridges provide larger fluid capacity than syringe barrels and are designed with durability to handle higher pressures. Available in multiple sizes from 2.5 oz up to 32 oz and in multiple colors, these cartridges are primarily used as reservoirs to feed various dispense valves in semi-automated and completely automated applications. The larger size typically allows customers to choose a size to match the amount of fluid that would be used during a shift, reducing the amount of downtime it takes to swap out components mid-shift.

Similar to syringe barrels, cartridges are also used with pistons to improve dispensing accuracy. Since they need a lot more air pressure to push the piston down the cartridge, a piston helps prevent air from tunneling a hole through the center of the fluid column, especially with thicker fluids. With high levels of air pressure, sometimes up to 100 psi, a retainer system is often recommended for safety.

Scaling Up with Automation

If production demands grow, transitioning from manual dispensing to tabletop robots can significantly boost output and reduce labor costs. If your application requires operators dispensing onto parts in an assembly process, you can batch these parts on a fixture plate and have the tabletop robot do the moving and dispensing for you.

Depending on the application, a robot can produce two to three times more parts than an operator in the same amount of time. Robots can also handle repetitive tasks with greater speed and accuracy, freeing up operators for more complex work.

Building Quality into Your Manufacturing Process

Single-use dispensing components may seem simple, but they’re the unsung heroes of precision manufacturing. By choosing the right combination of barrels, pistons, and tips, manufacturers can achieve consistent, high-quality results while optimizing efficiency. When you need to replace a dispensing tip, you need to know that the tip you're replacing has the same ID and tight tolerance as the one you discarded. This provides predictability in your manufacturing process.

At Nordson EFD, we mold our components to the tightest tolerances, ensuring that when you put your fluid in our syringe barrels, insert the piston in the syringe, and attach a dispensing tip to the bottom of the syringe, everything is working together to ensure that you get the most consistent and accurate dispense. From syringe-to-syringe, from piston-to-piston, and from tip-to-tip, consistency follows. If we can help you make your process as predictable as possible, that will allow you to focus on other aspects of the process that may need your attention.

Learn more from our experts by watching the Heroes of Dispensing: Why Single-Use Components Matter webinar (in English).

For more information on quality fluid dispensing components or to get in touch with one of our fluid dispensing experts, click here.

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