SPOTLIGHT
Surgical devices
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Custom surgical tubes and rods can be produced with burr-free slots and notches, cross-holes, multiple angles, and other complex features. Typically produced parts include stainless-steel rods and small-diameter tubing with swaged tips and cross-holes as small as 0.015 in. The company’s manufacturing processes include Swiss machining, grinding, knurling, milling, stamping, broaching, and induction brazing. A variety of finishing operations are available and parts can be laser etched for part identification and traceability. Custom 3-D bending and contouring, threading, forming, and grooving are also offered. Marshall Manufacturing Co., Minneapolis, MN, USA.
CNC lathes
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A series of computer numerical control (CNC) lathes are suitable for the production of joint-replacement components. The lathes produce accurate parts with a high surface finish. The milling mechanism reportedly facilitates the manufacture of joint-replacement parts that are custom tailored to specific body types. The milling motor of the NL-series lathes is located inside the turret and is directly coupled to the milling tool. This architecture eliminates the transmission loss and vibration associated with lathes that use gears and belts. The machines further eliminate vibration by employing a rigid triangle structure in the bed, spindle, and tailstock. Mori Seiki, Willich, Germany.
Metal processing
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A company forms fine wire, part assemblies, and precision insert-moulded components from a variety of alloys. Typical products include electrical contacts, composite electrodes, and miniature metal and precision screw machine parts. Items with diameters as small as 0.38 mm and dimensional tolerances of 0.013 mm are routinely manufactured. Custom parts also can be machined. The firm is certified to ISO 9000 and ISO 13488. Deringer-Ney, MedNet GmbH, Münster, Germany.
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Machining services
Titanium and stainless-steel alloys are machined by a firm that specializes in the production of biopsy forceps and foreign-body retrievers, orthopaedic parts, and dental and spinal implants. The firm offers prototyping and assistance with design and engineering. Laser marking and cleanroom assembly are also available. The firm is certified to ISO 13485 and ISO 9001. Carniaflex, Paluzza (UD), Italy.
Metal-cutting equipment
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Mechanized plasma technology that is able to quickly cut, bevel, and mark a variety of metals produces virtually no dross when processing materials less than 32 mm thick. It can be used to treat material in thicknesses up to 64 mm. The firm’s HyPerformance Plasma series of machines use patented technology to align and focus the plasma arc. A narrow kerf width enables fine-feature cutting and minimizes material waste. The machines’ cut-to-cut cycle time is less than 1.1 second. Hypertherm Europe, Roosendaal, Netherlands.
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Wires and needles
A firm offers a technology that can produce multiple facets on the ends of small-diameter wire and tubing. Developed to accommodate the evolving complexity of medical device designs, the firm’s Accu-Point technology can produce thousands of shapes and facets. The manufacturing platform features CNC precision and a proprietary strip-based loading system to minimize setup times and costs. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2000. New England Precision Grinding, Holliston, MA, USA.
Electrical terminal fabrication
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Electrical switches and terminals for medical devices are developed using rapid prototyping and 3-D solid-modelling analysis. Manufactured from medical-grade titanium, platinum, and stainless-steel and copper alloys, the terminals are available in sizes ranging from 0.008 to 0.090 in. thick with ±0.002-in. tolerances. They can be inlaid or edge laid with precious metals to increase wear resistance and other properties. ETCO, Warwick, RI, USA.
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Deep-drawn components
Proprietary drawing machines and in-house die-making capabilities enable a manufacturer to deep draw parts in a range of materials, including stainless steel, titanium, precious metals, and specialty alloys. Components drawn from flat stock or plated flat stock are available in lengths up to 2 in., with outside diameters as narrow as 0.010 in. and walls as thin as 0.0009 in. Length-to-diameter ratios up to 50:1 are achievable, as are ±0.0002-in. dimensional tolerances. Additional operations such as slitting, flaring, and hole punching can be performed cost-efficiently on the same machines used for drawing. Braxton Manufacturing Co., Watertown, CT, USA.
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