
Many medical device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have a particular interest in the use of titanium, notoriously challenging to manufacture using traditional production technologies since its strength makes it time-consuming and costly to machine, punch, press, or stamp.
Precision Micro, a photochemical machining specialist has optimized its process for use on medical-grade metals such as titanium and its alloys.
Today it’s the only European chemical etching company that can mass manufacture titanium parts and components for an array of medical OEMs and applications.
Applying chemical etching to titanium eliminates stress- and burr-related problems associated with alternative manufacturing technologies and opens up an array of possibilities in the areas of medical implants.
Key characteristics of etched titanium parts are the smoothness of surface and openings, and the elimination of burrs and surface irregularities. The process is highly repeatable and economical, with an image of the part effectively being printed onto the sheet metal before being selectively etched away in a single operation. The digital photo-tooling used to print the image does not wear, ensuring components produced day one are identical to components produced a decade later.
Stimulated by a significant investment in its titanium etching capability in 2015, the rapid uptake in demand from medical OEMs for titanium parts and components has enabled Precision Micro to hone its service in readiness.
This market focus has been stimulated with the company being recently awarded ISO 13485 accreditation, making Precision Micro one of only two etching companies globally that are accredited to supply the medical device market.
Precision Micro is experienced in manufacturing an array of etched titanium implants, as well as intricate meshes used in pacemaker batteries, orthopaedic implants, medical electronic components, and craniomaxillofacial (CMF) implants.
- Craniomaxillofacial implants
Biocompatible cranial and dental implants can be extremely feature dense, and demand burr-free edges which traditional machining technologies find difficult to achieve. Etched implants benefit from zero thermal distortion and burr-free openings. Complex, accurate aperture arrays and countersinks can be included at no additional cost, removing the need for additional machining. - Cardiac rhythm management
Manufactures intricate, 0.075mm titanium anode and cathode battery current collector grids used in lithium batteries contained within implantable defibrillators, ensuring reliable energy supply from a smaller footprint. The company also manufacture micro pacemaker screening cans which feature an electrical insulator selectively applied to reduce arcing. - Orthopaedic saw blades
Typically, sharp-toothed blades are profiled using laser cutting before grinding to achieve the required tooth offset. By using the depth etching technique, one of the world-leading medical OEMs partnered with Precision Micro to develop a unique tooth profile which removed the need for the secondary grinding operation. Today, Precision Micro supplies 1,000s of sagittal and oscillating bone saws each month, machined to ±0.005mm – impossible with laser cutting and grinding. - Medical electronics
A wide range of 2D and 3D electronics components, including lead frames, EMI/RFI shielding, connectors, contacts, biosensor springs and meshes, can be etched burr- and stress-free, with clean profiles and no heat-affect.
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