T-Drill collars for data center liquid cooling
We make stainless steel T-Drill branch outlets and sensor ports for data center liquid cooling lines. Each branch needs one orbital weld instead of three, which means fewer leak paths near IT equipment, a smooth coolant flow path, and repeatable joints across every header and manifold.
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Where T-Drill collars go in a cooling system
- Sensor ports for temperature, pressure and flow sensors on coolant supply and return lines.
- Header and manifold branches feeding rows, racks or cold plates, without a separate tee at every outlet.
- Coolant distribution unit (CDU) piping where branch spacing has to match equipment exactly.
- Technology cooling system (TCS) and facility water loops built from stainless tube and joined by orbital welding.
- Drain, vent and fill ports placed exactly where your design needs them.
Why stainless T-Drill collars suit liquid cooling
Fewer welds, fewer leak points. A welded tee adds three welds per branch; a T-Drill collar adds one. On a manifold with dozens of branches that's a large cut in welds to make, inspect and trust.
Clean, consistent joints. Each collar is faced square for an orbital butt weld, so your welder sees the same fit-up at every branch.
Corrosion-resistant material. We work in 304/304L and 316/316L stainless, the grades commonly specified for coolant loops. See stainless steel T-Drill collars.
Prototypes and short runs. Our process is manual, so it fits prototype, validation and low-to-medium production builds rather than high-volume production. See T-Drill prototypes.
Who we work with
Thermal engineers, liquid cooling equipment builders, mechanical contractors and fabricators building data center cooling systems who need stainless branch outlets made to their drawing, from a single prototype to a medium production run.
Liquid cooling FAQ
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.
How does a T-Drill collar compare to a welded tee?
A welded tee puts three circumferential welds at every branch. A T-Drill collar puts one, at the branch. For stainless liquid cooling lines that means fewer welds to make and inspect, fewer potential leak paths, a smoother flow path with no internal weld bead at the tee, and less material and fitting inventory.
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.
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.
Are the collars ready for orbital welding?
Yes. After each collar is pulled, its end is faced square so the branch tube or fitting butts up clean for an orbital butt weld. Parts ship ready to weld on your line.
Need T-Drill collars on stainless tube?
Send your header, manifold or sensor-port drawing and get a price and lead time within one business day.