The medical industry is booming and has many opportunities for businesses to explore. The medical industry uses machines and devices to diagnose and treat patients. Many of these devices are made using the process of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining services in the medical industry. A CNC machine is used to make precision parts used in various applications like bioengineering, medical devices, semi-end products, and so on.
CNC machining services in the medical industry help businesses create custom parts for their products or services. Read on to know about the future scope of CNC machining services in this niche by 2027.
What is CNC Machining in the Medical Industry?
CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses computer-controlled equipment to remove material from a workpiece to create the desired shape or finish. The CNC machining process begins with a block of material (known as a blank) and uses a rapid cutting speed to remove material and create a finished product.
The CNC machines follow a coded program, and CNC machines are designed to process all material forms to meet specifications by utilizing a coded program interface. Once the program is implemented, the CNC machine can process the material autonomously.
What are the applications of CNC machining for the medical industry?
There are many applications for CNC machining in the medical industry. Some examples include:
- Creating prosthetic devices
- Creating implants
- Creating surgical instruments
- Creating medical device prototypes
- Creating custom medical devices
Why Is CNC Machining Used in the Medical Industry?
Many medical supplies, such as plastic face shields, are made with injection molding. Choosing the proper molds for consistent and repeatable injection with CNC machines is essential because they are fundamentally more accurate and faster than manual machines. In addition, this leads to more accurate machined products. It is crucial for products like medical equipment and prosthetics that require even tighter tolerances.
Machining Capability:
CNC Swiss Machining
We benefit from medical components greatly. We can produce even the most minor parts to a very high degree of accuracy with dimensional tolerances of less than 0.002 mm. Aside from our Swiss machining machines, we have nine-axis lathes, so we can produce exceptionally complex CNC machined parts quickly and accurately.
CNC Turning and Milling
You can use a CNC turning and milling center to produce complex components quickly and repeatedly at an exceptionally high level of craftsmanship because of our CNC turning and milling centers. In the same vein as all of our CNC services, our CNC milling and turning machines can manufacture complex components to tight tolerances, just like all of our CNC services.
Medical Industry Benefits from CNC Machining
CNC machining in the medical industry offers the following benefits:
Automated Machining Processes
Machines that use CNC machines, such as CNC milling, turning, punching metals, folding sheet metal, etc., are nearly all automated. It means they are controlled by computers, minimizing errors and ensuring high precision.
No Volume Limit
A CNC machine is programmed using computer-aided design to provide instructions that direct it. By creating cutting programs from CAD files, one can produce a high-quality part or multiple parts with high accuracy. This feature is especially useful due to the worldwide medical equipment and components shortage. This tool can create short and large quantities of surgical products, prosthetics, medical devices, etc.
Multifaceted & Quick Production
Devices, appliances, and equipment in the medical industry have parts that have complex geometries. CNC machining makes it easier to manufacture intricate parts. Today, four-axis and five-axis CNC machining are growing in popularity. With it, you can quickly meet any geometrical design requirement, and it is an advanced method. Medical industries often experience emergencies that are hard to predict, but CNC machining can manufacture quality parts quickly.
Set Up is Not Required with CNC Machining
Many production processes take a few weeks to complete. For example, mold making for plastic injection molding may take a few weeks since the molds need to be optimized differently. Nevertheless, CNC machining is the best choice if you need unique parts in a short time frame, and it does not require any additional setup.
Tight Tolerances
Machines producing CNC parts can achieve tight tolerances without requiring secondary finishing, and automated machining reduces the risks of deviation from the original design. These machines create surface finishes that do not need secondary finishing, and CNC machines create surface finishes that do not require mostly secondary finishing.
Multi-Material
Medical parts can be made from various materials using CNC machines, including stainless steel, mild steel, titanium, and others. You can utilize these materials precisely without affecting accuracy using CNC machines.
Which Materials are used?
Medical components must also comply with specific tension and malleability requirements and sterilization or disposal requirements. In the medical industry, stainless steel is the most commonly used material, as it is corrosion resistant and easy to machine. Nearly four out of five medical devices are constructed of stainless steel.
Unlike stainless steel, which lacks elasticity, titanium alloys and elastomers are becoming more popular since they are similar to bone’s elasticity. Various materials, including ceramics, polymers, and composites, are also under study. Materials research continues to be conducted continuously.
A CNC Machined Medical Device
The CNC medical machining process is used to make precision components such as the following due to its suitability for the delicate conditions in this field:
Medical Implants
A medical practitioner may only require small quantities of implants, making injection molds economically viable because mold production increases production costs unnecessarily. A knee implant or hip replacement is one of many uses for machining medical parts. In this way, machinists’ production costs aren’t affected by CNC medical machining, and they can use the tools they have used in the past again.
Various metals (like titanium) and plastics (like PEEK) are used for these implants. CNC machining is compatible with a wide variety of materials and is an ideal machining process for such production processes. Because it is a feasible machining process, use standard Machined Implants such as Spine implants, Knee implants, Hip implants, etc.
Micromachining
As a result of their high level of sophistication, high levels of expertise are often required to manufacture them, including implantable devices, exploratory surgical tools, and drug delivery technologies that are extremely small. CNC medical machining is ideal for components with feature sizes well below 50 microns due to its high level of precision. These components may have feature sizes well below 50 microns, which makes CNC machining an ideal match.
A medical instrument machinist makes tiny plastic tubes, tiny screws for implants and devices, catheters, stents, drug delivery systems, pacemaker components, ophthalmic devices, and more with micromachining.
Medical Electronics Parts
Many surgical instruments consist of one or two metal parts. But CNC machines can fabricate parts for much more complex devices, such as heart rate monitors, MRI scanners, and X-ray machines.
A CNC machine can be used to fabricate many of the parts of these expensive pieces of equipment, which may contain hundreds or thousands of individual parts as well as small components such as switches, levers, and buttons. And It can also include machined equipment larger items such as monitor housings.
Medical equipment is constantly rolled around hospitals, so these components must be of the highest quality to prevent failures. Since these parts may never come into direct contact with a patient, they do not need to be biocompatible or bio-safe, unlike implants and surgical tools.
Machined parts are commonly found in electronic medical equipment such as Ultrasound equipment, MRI scanners, CT scanners, Diagnostic equipment, Monitors, and Lighting.
Machined Surgical Instruments
Furthermore, medical professionals use CNC machining machine tools for constructing body implants. These components include surgical scissors, biopsy tubes, blade handles, cutters, saws, forceps, implant holders, clamps, spacers, plate benders, and more. An instrument or tool that is CNC machined must be carefully and precisely constructed, as well as sterilizable easily.
Medical device manufacturers may prefer CNC machining for surgical tools because they require high precision. Because some of these parts are made for individual patients while others are made in small batches, CNC machining will be the most economical manufacturing method. Surgical instruments commonly machined include Handles, Cutters, Saws, Forceps, Holders, Clamps, and Spacers.
Medical Components and Parts
We offer CNC Machining services for the following medical components and parts:
Expandable Rib Cages: The primary purpose of an expandable rib cage is to provide additional support to the lungs and chest during surgery. They are typically made from titanium or stainless steel, and our CNC Machining services can create them to your specifications.
Laser Eye Surgery Equipment: Our CNC Machining services can provide you with high-quality laser eye surgery equipment that is precise and durable. We can manufacture components and parts for various laser eye surgery machines, and our team can work with you to ensure that your components and parts meet your specific requirements.
Spinal Fusion Cages: Spinal fusion cages are used in a surgical procedure to fuse two or more vertebrae. They are typically made from titanium or stainless steel and require precise machining to function correctly.
Vena Cava Clips: The vena cava is a large vein that carries blood from the body to the heart. Vena cava clips are small devices placed around the vena cava to help prevent it from collapsing. Vena cava clips are often used in people who have had heart surgery or are at risk for the collapse of the vena cava.
Bone Plates: We can machine bone plates out of a variety of materials, including titanium, stainless steel, and PEEK. Our bone plates are available in various sizes and shapes to meet your needs.
Maxillofacial Prosthetics: We specialize in designing and manufacturing custom craniofacial prosthetics for patients who have suffered trauma or deformities to the face.
Final Thought
CNC Machining Service is an essential process in the medical industry. It helps to create accurate and precise products that meet the specific requirements in the medical field. This service is critical in helping to create life-saving devices and treatments.
