Data center cooling
Sensor ports and branch outlets on coolant supply and return lines, headers and manifolds.
Liquid cooling →Stainless T-Drill collaring · Data center thermal management
Stainless T-Drill collars, faced for orbital.
Brody's Fab Shop T-Drills 5/8" to 2" branch collars into 2" to 4" stainless steel tube and pipe and faces them for an orbital butt weld. It's a manual process, not high-volume production, built for prototypes, one-offs, specialized sensor port locations and low-to-medium runs.
What we make
The stainless T-Drill collar
A T-Drill collar is a branch collar formed straight out of the wall of the run tube. We drill a pilot hole, pull the collar outward to form an integral branch outlet, then face the end square so your branch tube or fitting butts up clean for an orbital weld.
That gives you one weld per branch instead of the three a welded tee needs, a smooth flow path, and a consistent joint your orbital welder can repeat. It's also called collaring, a pulled outlet or an extruded outlet.
How T-Drill collars work and how they compare to tees and weldolets →
T-Drill prototypes
Single pieces and small batches to prove a design, then the same part at production quantity.
Prototypes →Specialized ports
Custom spacing, mixed sizes and odd clock orientations, laid out from your drawing.
Port locations →Stainless steel
304, 304L, 316 and 316L tube and pipe. Supply your own or have us quote the tube.
Stainless →Our process
A manual process
T-Drill collars are made by hand here, not on a high-volume production line. Here's what that means for your order.
Good fit
Prototypes, one-off parts, specialized port locations and low-to-medium production runs.
Not a fit
High-volume, high-production orders of identical parts.
Checked by hand
Every collar is pulled, faced square and checked against your drawing before it ships.
Ordering
How it works
- STEP 1
Send your specs
Run tube OD and wall, grade, branch size, collar locations and quantity. A drawing is best.
- STEP 2
Get a quote
Price and lead time back to you within one business day.
- STEP 3
We pull & face
Each collar is laid out, pulled by hand, faced square and checked against your drawing.
- STEP 4
Ready to weld
Parts ship ready for orbital butt welding on your line.
Common questions
T-Drill FAQ
What is a T-Drill collar?
A T-Drill collar is a branch outlet formed by pulling (extruding) metal out of the wall of a tube to create an integral collar. A pilot hole is drilled, then a forming tool draws the collar outward. The collar becomes part of the run tube, so the branch needs only one weld where it meets the branch tube instead of the three welds a fabricated tee needs.
Is this a manual or high-volume production process?
It's a manual process. Each collar is laid out from your drawing, pulled, faced and checked by hand. We are not a high-volume, high-production shop. The work suits prototypes, one-off parts, specialized port locations and low-to-medium production runs.
Can you put ports in unusual or tightly specified locations?
Yes. Custom spacing, mixed branch sizes on one run, different clock orientations and one-of-a-kind sensor port locations are all laid out individually from your drawing. If a location is too close to a tube end or another collar, we'll tell you in the quote and suggest the nearest workable position.
How fast can you turn around a T-Drill collar order?
You'll get a price and lead time within one business day of sending your specs. Prototypes and small runs are typically turned around fast. The exact lead time depends on quantity, tube supply and current shop load and is stated in your quote.
Why use T-Drill collars in data center liquid cooling systems?
Liquid cooling headers, manifolds and coolant distribution lines need many branches and sensor ports, and every weld is a potential leak point near expensive IT equipment. T-Drill collars cut the weld count per branch from three to one, keep a smooth flow path, and give consistent, repeatable joints for orbital welding.
What stainless steel grades do you work with?
304, 304L, 316 and 316L stainless steel tube and pipe. 316L is the most common choice for data center liquid cooling loops. You can supply your own tube or have us quote the tube too.
Quote request
Tell us about your tube
Fill this out and attach your drawing. It comes straight to our inbox, and you'll get a price and lead time within one business day.