Patent ID: 7530169

Claim:
A method of fabricating an orifice plate, comprising: providing a mandrel which includes (1) a base having a base surface, (2) a plurality of pillars extending outward from the base surface to define an array wherein each pillar has side surfaces adjoining the base surface at a base-pillar boundary, and (3) an electrically conductive layer disposed on the base surface, the electrically conductive layer terminating at least substantially at the base-pillar boundary; depositing an electrically conductive material on the electrically conductive layer of the mandrel, the deposited electrically conductive material forming a body portion of the orifice plate; and separating the body portion of the orifice plate from the mandrel, the pillars of the mandrel defining an array of orifices for the orifice plate in the deposited electrically conductive material.