Spotlight on Metal Fabricators
Cannulated bars
Cannulated bars are fabricated from stainless-steel and titanium alloys. AISI 304L-, 420-, 440-, 630-, and custom 455-stainless-steel bars measure 24 m and are used in the manufacture of medical instruments, while 316 LVM, 22-13-5, Rex 734, Ti6Al4Veli, and Ti6Al7Nb materials are suited for implant fabrication. Cannulated drills, taps, reamers, drilling guides, bushings, screws, and intramedullary nails are among the products offered. Forécreu Biométal, Meudon, France.
Laser machining
A company that specializes in contract laser cutting, welding, and marking has contributed to the manufacture of a port access system. The Report is a modular system fitted with an interchangeable tip. Trocars with a reusable protective shield that can be dismantled for cleaning and sterilization are also available. The trocar incorporates three precision orbital laser welds as well as a fillet weld to which a small coil spring is attached. The company also fabricated a range of fine laser-cut components for the interchangeable-tip system and laser marked the parts according to client specifications. Micrometric Techniques Ltd.,Lincoln, Lincs, UK.
Miniature components
Miniature and subminiature precision components are machined on an eight-axis Swiss-style CNC machine. This equipment allows parts to be machined in a single operation, thereby ensuring enhanced accuracy, repeatability, and productivity. Miniature machining work includes prototyping as well as preproduction and production in a variety of volumes, applications, and materials. Remmele Engineering Inc., Micro Machining Div., Big Lake, MN, USA.
Needles
A company supplies a range of custom components fabricated from 0.10- to 6-mm-diam small-bore stainless-steel tubing. Products include hypodermic, puncture, and biopsy needles; surgical suture needles with regular or spring eyes; and special-purpose needles for anaesthesia, radiology, ophthalmology, and related applications. Chrome-plated brass and stainless-steel adapters and stopcocks with luer-lock or plastic tubing connectors are also available. Surface-treatment services include passivation, polishing, marking, and gold and Teflon deposition. The components can be configured with elbows, ports, and other OEM-specified features. Unimed S.A., Lausanne, Switzerland.
Precision machining
Intricately shaped components of all sizes are machined to tolerances of ±0.00005 in. Parts are made from stainless steel, titanium, platinum, and platinum-iridium, along with other exotic alloys, as well as from a variety of plastics and composites. The company, which is focussed on the medical device industry in Europe and the US, produces an array of components for implantable uses. Prototyping through full-scale production services are offered; quick-turnaround small runs are also accommodated. Kelco Industries Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Miniature parts
Wires, tubes, cables, and similar parts are fabricated from 302, 304V, 316, and LVM stainless steels, cobalt alloys, nickel-titanium, tungsten, and other materials. The company's capabilities include straightening, profiling, laminating, cutting, forming, laser welding, end-rounding, and precision grinding. All components are produced to customer specifications. Microfil Industries S.A., Renens-Lausanne, Switzerland.
Wire parts and assemblies
Precision wire parts and assemblies are fabricated for use in medical devices. Profile grinding of fine-diameter wire for guidewire cores, stylets, mandrels, and other close-tolerance applications is a specialty. Tapers of any length in diameters as small as 0.04 mm can be accommodated. Other in-house capabilities include straightening, bending, welding, stamping, coil-winding, and subassembly of fine-diameter wire parts. Stainless steel, MP35N, nitinol, tungsten, platinum, and various other alloys in diameters ranging from 0.05 to 1.50 mm are routinely machined. Star Guide Corp., Arvada, CO, USA.
Machined components
Copper alloy, steel, aluminium, hard metal, and ceramic materials are machined in facilities equipped with CNC machines, single and multispindle lathes, millers, grinders, and rotary transfer machines. Laser cutting and welding operations are also performed. Finished turned and milled parts, precision mechanical parts, mechanical components, and assemblies are routinely manufactured. The company is certified to ISO 9002. Eram AG, Allschwill, Switzerland.
