A seal plate disposable between a pair of preforms in a chemical vapor infiltration and deposition chamber, comprising: a body comprising an opening , an inner perimeter that defines a boundary of said opening , an outer perimeter spaced from said inner perimeter, an upper surface, and a lower surface that is spaced from said upper surface to define a thickness of said body; a plurality of first channels that extend completely through said thickness of said body, wherein a first end of each first channel of said plurality of first channels is spaced outwardly from said inner perimeter, wherein a second end of each said first channel is spaced inwardly from said outer perimeter, and wherein said first end of each said first channel is positioned closer to said inner perimeter than its corresponding said second end; a plurality of second channels that extend completely through said thickness of said body proceeding from said upper surface to said lower surface, wherein a first end of each second channel of said plurality of second channels is spaced outwardly from said inner perimeter, wherein a second end of each said second channel is spaced inwardly from said outer perimeter, and wherein said first end of each said second channel is positioned closer to said inner perimeter than its corresponding said second end; wherein each of said plurality of first channels is different from each of said plurality of second channels , wherein the first end of each first channel of said plurality of first channels is closer to the inner perimeter than the first end of each second channel of said plurality of second channels, and wherein the second end of each second channel of said plurality of second channels is closer to the outer perimeter than the second end of each first channel of said plurality of first channels. a body comprising an opening , an inner perimeter that defines a boundary of said opening , an outer perimeter spaced from said inner perimeter, an upper surface, and a lower surface that is spaced from said upper surface to define a thickness of said body; a plurality of first channels that extend completely through said thickness of said body, wherein a first end of each first channel of said plurality of first channels is spaced outwardly from said inner perimeter, wherein a second end of each said first channel is spaced inwardly from said outer perimeter, and wherein said first end of each said first channel is positioned closer to said inner perimeter than its corresponding said second end; a plurality of second channels that extend completely through said thickness of said body proceeding from said upper surface to said lower surface, wherein a first end of each second channel of said plurality of second channels is spaced outwardly from said inner perimeter, wherein a second end of each said second channel is spaced inwardly from said outer perimeter, and wherein said first end of each said second channel is positioned closer to said inner perimeter than its corresponding said second end; wherein each of said plurality of first channels is different from each of said plurality of second channels , wherein the first end of each first channel of said plurality of first channels is closer to the inner perimeter than the first end of each second channel of said plurality of second channels, and wherein the second end of each second channel of said plurality of second channels is closer to the outer perimeter than the second end of each first channel of said plurality of first channels. <EOS>