|
 Case
Study # 2
Component:
Biopsy
Instrument
Challenge: A
medical device manufacturer had a complex biopsy instrument set
that consisted of eleven parts made out of plastic. However field
results indicated that the plastic set could not meet the strength
requirements for the application. Machining the eleven piece set
from barstock would render the part too costly to produce.
Solution: A
metal injected molded set that would deliver the strength
requirements needed and be significantly less than machining thus
making it feasible for production.
When the medical
device manufacturer developed a complex biopsy instrument set out
of plastic their test results indicated that the plastic did not
have the strength requirements for the application. They needed
stainless steel to meet the strength requirements so they looked
at machining the set out of barstock. While this solved the
strength requirements for the application they now faced another
hurtle: machining would render the set too costly to produce.
Essentially they were without a viable product until they talked
to Flomet. After careful analysis, the decision was made to use
Flomet’s 316L duplex alloy. Typical properties of the 316L
include an ultimate tensile strength of 73 kpsi, yield strength of
43 kpsi, elongation of 40%, and a HR (B scale) hardness of 70 to
80. This solved the material problem, however, now Flomet had to
develop eleven production tools that would produce the components
to make the biopsy instrument set. The components had to be made
to exact tolerances that would enable them to fit together. With
craftmen detail the tools were designed, modeled, and built. All
eleven components were molded and processed meeting the
dimensional tolerance required to allow them to fit together in
order to form a viable instrument. No easy task when there are
that many required for the assembled set. The production process
proved to be cost effective while producing functionally sound
product. By choosing Flomet, the customer was able to reach its
objectives of product requirements and cost effectiveness.
 Download
PDF
<<
Back to Case Study Directory
|
