Forums » Off-Topic Discussions

How CNC Machining Is Changing the Medical Industry

    • 3280 posts
    January 12, 2023 12:30 AM EST

    Products, devices, and accessories used in medicine are becoming ever more sophisticated as new technologies emerge to improve human health and patient outcomes. These products are found everywhere, from surgical wards to rehabilitation centers, from small town clinics to the family medicine cabinet.Get more news about Prototype Cnc Machining,you can vist our website!

    Advances in CNC machine tool technology are being driven by the demands of the marketplace. Sophisticated designs for next-generation applications require higher levels of precision and repeatability. That, in turn, is expanding the envelope of what is physically possible in tool design.

    Machine manufacturers are always searching for ways to optimize performance by controlling vibration, increasing machine speed, lowering maintenance costs, and providing flexible machining platforms that can perform multiple complex tasks in one machine set-up.
    Linear Drives
    Multi-axis CNC machines travel on several independent axes. To do this, most machines use a rack-and-pinion guide or a linear screw and reciprocating ball drive system. Both types are subject to friction and wear and have limitations both in accuracy and in speed.

    But linear drive systems work much like a Maglev train. Electrical current, interacting with powerful magnets, levitates the carriage off the guide rail while also driving its travel. This means no friction, no wear and tear, and no maintenance. And linear drive systems move much faster, with much higher degrees of accuracy and precision.
    Hydrostatic Guides
    Another innovative drive solution, also calibrated to reduce friction, is the hydrostatic guide. These use precisely ground guideways that are cushioned with a thin film of oil. The oil is continuously pumped into and out of a carriage, and this carriage holds the workpiece. The oil flotation quells vibration and removes friction, thereby leading to excellent surface finishes on the part.

    Temperature Control
    The buildup of heat is always a problem when machining at the very edge of performance. This is because the natural expansion of all materials when they heat up will definitely throw tolerances out of control—unless this heat is controlled with very serious central cooling. In addition, smart manufacturers have figured out how to calculate the rate of expansion for all critical components in their system and then counteract those movements accordingly.

    More advanced machine tools allow for the manufacture of more advanced products, and that is certainly no exception when it comes to medical devices.

    There is no other mass production process that is so reliable, precise, scalable, cost effective, and easily customized. Let’s take a closer look at how CNC machining can be used to improve the development of medical devices in certain key areas.