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Why You Should Use CNC Machining for Medical Products

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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.

 

3 Benefits of Utilizing CNC Machining For Your Production Process

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The modern factory was first invented, or at least credited, to the work of Richard Arkwright. Arkwright patented a water frame in 1769 before building the Cromford Mill, one of the first prototype manufacturing facilities as well as the first successful cotton-spinning factory on the planet.

Nearly 200 years after Arkwright would help to pioneer manufacturing warehouses, the world would be introduced to Computer Numerical Control Machining, otherwise known as CNC Machining.

Understanding CNC Machining

CNC Machining is a popular form of manufacturing relied upon for quick, accurate, and high-level material production. The process of CNC machining was brought to fruition by Richard Kegg in 1952 during a project in collaboration with MIT.  Kegg and his team at MIT would work in concert to develop the Cincinnati Milacron Hydrotel, the first of many prominent pieces of CNC Machining technology. Now, decades later, that same model is utilized by manufacturing facilities around the world

CNC Machining can be accomplished in several different ways. With that being said, there are three core types of CNC machining to be made aware of.

  1. CNC Milling – This form of machining was brought to life by Richard Kegg. CNC Milling is a process that involves mounting and mixing with rotational cutting tools. Materials are cut and removed by the rotating tools to craft many shapes at a rapid pace.
  2. CNC Turning – CNC turning is a manufacturing process that involves bars of material held in place by a chuck. This material is turned by the chuck in a rotation whereupon it is fed into the tool until the desired shape has been crafted.
  3. EDM   – Also known as Electrical Discharge Machining, EDM is a type of metal fabrication process that leans on electrical sparks to shape the targeted material. Typically, this involves voltage being released between two electrodes until an electric arc is produced.

3 Key Benefits to CNC Machining

If you are looking for a reason to add CNC machining processes to your manufacturing facility, you can take your pick. CNC machining took hold in the 50s and still exists to this day. There are a variety of reasons that warehouses are continuing to turn to professional CNC machining solutions, including the following three reasons.

  1. Highly Efficient – CNC Machining requires fewer steps in the production process, thus allowing for a quick turnaround on all production processing.
  2. Advanced Software – Put control into the hands of your computer. CNC machines use CAD software that provides a multitude of functions and options that other processes cannot match.
  3. Automated System – Fully automated systems mean that your operators don’t have to expose themselves to the job. Step back and watch over the machine from a safe distance as the process handles itself.

Working with CNC machining processes allows individuals to manipulate a variety of common and popular materials including aluminum, stainless steel, and brass among others.

 

Polyethylene Liners Find Second Life

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Even if you don’t know what a polyethylene liner is off the top of your head, you’ve seen them. If you frequently get packages, you’ve probably seen them a lot. These insulated packaging liners help keep all kinds of goods from becoming damaged from heat or other extreme temperatures, and they’re largely responsible for the rise in online food and pharmaceutical shipping services.

The downside? They’re really tough to recycle. The base design of these liners consists of a multi-film, metalized composite materials that are impossible to convert into other high-demand market materials. And because they are most commonly used to transport perishable food, plant and pharmaceutical products, they cannot be reused over and over again on their own.

But that may no longer be a problem, thanks to an innovative collaboration between packaging manufacturer PAC Worldwide and composite decking manufacturer Trex Company. Using the “NexTrex” nationwide recycling program as a vehicle, PAC Worldwide has introduced consumers and the packing industry to the world’s first 100% recyclable, government approved thermal bubble liner, as well as a whole line of additional recyclable packing products. And just like their predecessors, these recyclable products still manage to maintain ideal temperatures to preserve perishable goods. That’s impressive to say the least, but what’s happening with the newly recyclable polyethylene liners is even more so.

Turning One-time Use Packaging Materials into Lasting Outdoor Decks

Not too long ago, the mere thought of something like packaging materials transforming into sturdy, outdoor decking and railings would seem far-fetched, if not impossible. But that’s exactly what the partnership between PAC and Trex hopes to achieve. The new line of recyclable packing materials (liners, roll stock, pallet covers and Pouches) will be collected after use via the NexTrex program. Currently, stores and shopping centers in 49 states (Hawaii is the exception) and Washington D.C. are participating, with over 32,000 collection bins nationwide where the used materials can be deposited.

Once collected, the packing materials can be combined with other NexTrex recycled items to be turned into the sturdy, weather-resistant composite material for outdoor decking and railings. Impressively, the recycled portion in the finished product is at about 95 percent. In time, the partnership between PAC and Trex is estimated to relieve the nation’s landfills of about 400 million pounds of formerly non-recyclable polyethylene.

Consumer Education Comes First

In another spark of innovation, both PAC and Trex are putting consumer education first in their quest to recycle the new packing liners. After all, the program will only work if consumers follow through and deposit the packaging materials in the designated collection bins. Recycling programs have long been grown via supply chain advances, but the main efforts here will be focused on spreading awareness about polyethylene and sustainability efforts. In this case, consumers will have plenty of online access to learn more about the program and where they can drop off their used packaging materials.

Consumers may be more likely to participate in recycling efforts when they actually know what the materials are being used for, after all. Furthermore, current trends towards sustainable alternatives have made their way all over the nation. The general public prefers options they view as environmentally safe, and in time, this will propel more growth of NexTrex and the PAC-Trex partnership.