Process for inserting flow passages in a work piece

A method for fabricating a flow passage in a director plate (30) is presented, comprising placing a director plate (30) and a sacrificial strip (20) immediately adjacent a surface of the director plate in a stamping tool (12,12'). The director plate (30) is clamped to the sacrificial strip (20), and a flow passage is created in the director plate by punching a tool piece (18,18') substantially completely through a predetermined location on the director plate (30). The flow passage in said director plate may comprise a fluid-discharge orifice for a fuel injector. The flow passage may be punched substantially orthogonal to the planar surface of the director plate (30), or, alternatively, oblique to the planar surface of the director plate (30).