Medical Device Link.

Originally Published EMDM May/June 2002

MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT

A thermal press from Dukane Corp. (St. Charles, IL, USA) is constructed with a modular design that eases the installation and removal of heating units. Suited for staking, swaging, degating, and part insertion and marking, the Model 48H press uses bolt-on, plug-in heaters that do not require additional wiring or mounting equipment.

"In the past, if you wanted to add a heater, you had to punch holes in the unit, add parts, and then run the wire," says business unit manager Tom Kirkland, who exhibited the unit at the MD&M West show. "It was a time-consuming process that left problematic holes in the press if the components were later removed." The Model 48 press eliminates these difficulties by facilitating rapid field reconfiguration of up to six separate heating elements to provide variable heat output of 80° to 999°F.

Suited for the production of blood-processing equipment, chemical pumps, fittings, flowmeters, IV drug-delivery components, and surgical instruments, the press features adjustable thermal probes that further expand the unit's adaptability to a range of tasks. Made of beryllium copper that heats and cools quickly, these probes attach to the machine with a single bolt to allow 360° positioning around any platen hole. Each probe also features an adjustable height mechanism and a swivel tip to allow greater positioning freedom.

Available in 120- or 240-V models, the Model 48 press is constructed with a rigid H-frame design that eliminates flexing and allows radial adjustment of ±10°. The unit can be used in conjunction with automation equipment and is preprogrammed to accept slide kits, fixture-clamping devices, and optical switches. Offering digital control of welding and cooling times, a rugged LCD is used to program the press, which is compatible with amorphous and semicrystalline thermoplastics and liquid-crystal polymers. "It's great for these kinds of materials, because the machine produces very little particulate and is tolerant of resin grade variations, colourants, and other additives," says Kirkland.

Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer