Last updated: October 28, 2026
The dispense tip is the last thing your fluid touches before it reaches the part, and it has more influence on deposit quality than almost anything else in the system. Too large and you overdispense. Too small and you fight backpressure. The wrong material and your fluid can react or clog.
Nordson EFD offers a wide range of tip styles and gauges, each designed for specific fluids and applications. Here is how we help customers narrow it down.
The 4 Simple Rules
These rules come straight from Nordson EFD, and they cover the majority of applications we see:
- Small deposits: small tips, low pressure, short pulse time.
- Large deposits: larger tips, higher pressure, longer time.
- Thick fluids: tapered tips, higher pressure, time as required.
- Watery fluids: small tips, low pressure, time as required.
Start there, then fine-tune the pressure and time on your dispenser. If you find yourself turning the pressure way up to get a thick material to move, that is usually a sign the tip is the problem, not the dispenser.
Tip Styles at a Glance
SmoothFlow™ Tapered Tips: best for thick and particle-filled fluids like solder pastes, sealants, and epoxies. The tapered design resists clogging, and the higher flow rate means lower air pressure and shorter dispense times. They are molded with a UV-block additive, so they are safe to use with UV-cure adhesives, and they won’t scratch fragile surfaces. Shop tapered tips.
General Purpose Stainless Steel Tips: the workhorse for all kinds of assembly fluids. They use polished, burr-free, passivated stainless steel with close-tolerance lengths and internal diameters, in 0.25″, 0.5″, 1″, and 1.5″ lengths. Shop general purpose tips.
PTFE-lined Tips: made for cyanoacrylates and very low viscosity fluids. The inert PTFE lining resists clogging, and the restricted flow makes micro-deposits of watery fluids easier to control. See the PTFE-lined 1″ grey and PTFE-lined pink tips.
Flexible Polypropylene Tips: for hard-to-reach spots, or for dragging a bead along edges and around corners. They won’t scratch or puncture delicate surfaces.
Ceramic MicroDot Tips: for the smallest deposits, as small as 100 μm, including fine particle-filled materials.
Need a style you don’t see online, like flexible or MicroDot tips? Just ask. We can quote and source the full Nordson EFD tip lineup. You can also browse bent tips and chamfered tips, or see everything in our dispensing tips category.
Reading the Colors: Gauge Size
Every Optimum tip has a color-coded hub, so operators can identify the size at a glance. The higher the gauge number, the smaller the opening. A few of the most common sizes:
| Gauge | Hub color | General purpose (0.5″) | SmoothFlow tapered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Grey | — | 16 ga tapered |
| 18 | Green | 18 ga GP | 18 ga tapered |
| 20 | Pink | 20 ga GP | 20 ga tapered |
| 22 | Blue | 22 ga GP | 22 ga tapered |
| 25 | Red | 25 ga GP | 25 ga tapered |
A Tip Is Only as Good as Its Connection
Every Optimum tip uses the 360° SafetyLok™ thread, which locks the tip securely onto the Optimum barrel, so it won’t blow off under pressure. Engineered hub flats make it easy to twist on and off. That fit is part of why the Optimum barrel, piston, and tip are designed as one system. If you are troubleshooting drips or inconsistent deposits, check the whole stack: the barrel, the piston, and the tip. For more, see our dispense tips and needles page.
Get Tip Selection Help
Tell us your fluid, your deposit size, and your part, and we’ll put the right tip in your hands. As Nordson EFD Solutions Experts, we stock a wide selection of Optimum tips locally in Santa Fe Springs, CA, and can help you test a few styles before you commit to a full box. Shop dispensing tips or email technicalservices@jacrawfordco.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is a 22 gauge dispensing tip?
Blue. A Nordson EFD 22 gauge tip has a 0.016″ (0.41 mm) ID. The full list is in our dispensing tip gauge and color chart.
What is the best dispensing tip for thick fluids?
A SmoothFlow tapered tip. Nordson EFD reports pressure dropping from about 80 psi on a general purpose tip to about 30 psi on a tapered tip, with faster deposits and less risk of separating filled materials.
What is the best dispensing tip for cyanoacrylate?
A PTFE-lined crimped tip for thin cyanoacrylates, and a polyethylene tapered tip for gel cyanoacrylates.