Techniques for providing stop-offs for brazing materials or other materials on structures being joined

A method comprising:

• obtaining multiple components to be coupled together, at least one of the multiple components comprising a stop-off, the stop-off comprising one or more markings formed on at least one surface of the at least one component, the one or more markings comprising at least one of:
• (i) one or more etches in the at least one surface and (ii) one or more oxides formed by localized heating of the at least one surface;
• and
• coupling the multiple components together using a melted or liquid material, wherein the stop-off controls or interrupts a flow of the melted or liquid material in a joint between the multiple components during the coupling;
• wherein the one or more markings form at least one helix around the at least one component.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first structure;
• a second structure;
• and
• a material coupling the first and second structures;
• wherein at least one of the structures comprises a stop-off, the stop-off comprising one or more markings formed on at least one surface of the at least one component, the one or more markings comprising at least one of:
• (i) one or more etches in the at least one surface and (ii) one or more oxides formed by localized heating of the at least one surface, the stop-off configured to control or interrupt a flow of the material coupling the structures in a joint between the structures;
• and
• wherein the one or more markings form at least one helix around the at least one component.