Why You Should Use CNC Machining for Medical Products
CNC machining is a very versatile manufacturing process. It can produce many types of parts, use different materials and produce high volume. And when it comes to manufacturing medical products, CNC machining is fast and inexpensive. Read on to discover all of the benefits of using CNC machining for making medical products.
No Fixed Tooling
Using a mold tool can take an additional 3-4 weeks compared to CNC machining. With a mold tool, you not only have to make the mold, but samples have to be approved and molding parameters have to be optimized. This just adds time and more costs to the process whether it’s a small or big production run. This includes single one-off parts, too. With CNC machining, there is less investment and fast turnaround.
No Volume Limits
Once a digital CAD file has been created, the cutting program gets generated fast. This coding program can be easily utilized to make both multiple parts or a single part. Just push the button. This ability gives an upper edge when making one-off custom parts or single parts. That’s why CNC machining is often used for things like prosthetics and specialized medical parts. Other processes require a minimum order volume, which makes some projects undoable.
Works With Many Materials
CNC machining can work with many different materials, including tools, rigid materials and end-use parts. Other materials that it can work with include engineering-grade plastics, aluminum stainless steel and titanium.
Fast
CNC machining is fast. Going from a digital CAD file to the finished product is quick. It may only take a few hours. This works well in situations where supplies might be needed at a moment’s notice. This has been done for personal protective equipment due to corona. The demand was able to be met with CNC machining.
Portable and Local
Many big industrial machines take up a lot of floor space when manufacturing. CNC machines are smaller and can actually fit right on top of a desktop. Their smaller size and minimum power requirements made it perfect for rural areas and emergencies. CNC machines are also very capable of producing fixtures, simple parts, appliances and other components.
Tight Tolerance
Most advanced medical devices need very tight tolerances. This can easily be accomplished on CNC machines. Its surface finishes need little post-processing. In this manner, CNC machines save both time and money. Medical products must be fit for purpose. Any deviation can result in disaster. CNC machining reduces the risk.
Portable and Flexible
Digital CAD files are both portable and flexible. These attributes allow manufacturing pros, medical specialists and product designers to move digital programs from one location to another location fast and without any problems. This ability delivers specialty solutions and is not dependent on a geographical location.
As you can see, there are many, many benefits of CNC machining for the manufacturing of medical products. And that’s why it’s the first choice for many companies who make medical products. Time is money when it comes to business operations, and CNC machining is a great choice for medical product manufacturers.