Active Baby Boomers Drive Medical Manufacturing…Find The Right Precision Oriented Prototype Manufacturer

Aging baby boomers don't fit the stereotype of the doddering 50 going on 60 somethings retiring to a life of knitting sweaters and lake fishing. These folks are active, with a lust for life that would rival any 20 something. They are bungee jumping, bicycling, sky diving, night clubbing and simply getting the most out of their retirements should they had the good fortune to leave the working world behind.

Because of this, there is a desire for Boomers to not only live fully, but be more healthy while doing it. As these seniors have the cash to back up their demands, many in the precision prototype manufacturing and machining fields are listening.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) Heed The Call

Part of living healthy is making sure you receive adequate medical care and assistance as you get older. OEM's (original equipment manufacturers) are bringing new innovative product into the fold, creating working models that allow them to bring usable products to the market place faster than ever before. These products often include, but are not limited to, medical supplies, cutting edge equipment and devices, surgical tools, implants, spinal and related trauma implants and prosthesis. Because medical related products and components have to be created to exacting specifications, OEMS often work in conjunction with reliable machinist engineers to bring highly effective tools into he medical marketplace for Baby Boomer use.

EDM and CNC Machining

When precision has to be the name of the game, many medical parts and device engineers turn to machining shops to craft their one of a kind models. These highly trained trade engineers understand what's at stake and have the skill and expertise needed to craft quality product using the latest in machining appliance and techniques.

Among the most tried and true is the use of EDM and CNC machining to craft precision instruments and parts:

EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) also called spark machining, EDM's are able to craft even the smallest components to such exacting precision that the devise is mathematically sound and proportional. The qualified engineers trained in  handling the complex machinery that creates numerous types of instruments and devices, truly comprehend the importance of their task and take nothing for  granted during the creation of the requested prototype. The process begins after a workpiece is introduced into the machine for erosion and shaping. Material is slowly but surely removed via a series of electrode inspired discharges, with the tool-electrode aiding  the shaping and the workpiece-electrode training the object for stability. The surface is then carefully sculpted and manipulated to obtain the desired shape.

CNC (Computer Numerical Control)– Like EDM's, CNC machines are reliable, time tested machining instruments. As a tool, CNC's often assist in crafting high quality parts for a large variety industries. The wonderful hing about CNC's however, is that they don't have to be constantly stood over and manned. Once a skilled machinist gets the ball rolling, the CNC will work on its own to fabricate parts with expert efficiency. Just as with EDM machines, there are a large variety of CNC machines that provide pretty much the same functionality, but in different ways. Although some CNC machines can be sold as hobby instruments, the large bulk of them are used  in the manufacturing field for the creation of quality parts.

Industrial CNC

Most CNC industry grade cutters are millers, lathes or grinders. The type of machines used will depend on the project. Reputable shops generally have more than one EDM or CNC machine in house. Medical suppliers and engineers shopping for a renowned company to bring their designs to life, should tour a local ISO 9001:2008 certified machinist to see what options exist for their next, big project.

Meeting complex boomer needs in a changing economy

As the current economy continues on an upswing, many machinists and related shops have begun to hire on new blood and purchase the latest and greatest in quality EDM and CNC machines. In turn, the medical establishment has been turning to machinist engineers to help them create the latest and greatest products that will accommodate the lives of our senior aged citizens.

As the needs of this large, aging demographic continues to grow, many machinists  are finding  s way to  reduce costs so they can offer medical suppliers and engineers a variety of effective options that will keep clients happy while allowing the shop to turn a profit. Indeed, it is a harmonious relationship that is beneficial to involved  parties and allows  room for innovation and  creativity in the medical fields. To that end,  medical engineers and machinists will continue to work in conjunction with one another to craft a brighter future not only for baby boomers, but for the rest of us, who will one day be vibrant seniors looking for way to remain youthful, energetic and vibrant.

General Prototype and Production Manufacturing Services
Visit www.ArbiserMachine.com | Perfecting Speed & Precision
Phone: 770.939.1240

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5 Reasons to be Cautious of Rapid Prototyping

Like any relatively new technology, rapid prototyping has many plus and minuses. In this article, we will be exploring some of the disadvantages of the RPM.

First, things first, just what is Rapid Prototyping? Rapid Prototyping is a form of additive based layer printing that utilizes CAD (Computer Assisted Design) to create scale models and prototypes. These prototypes can be used to round up investors for a new product, or for display purposes at shows, festivals, fairs and related events. It can also be used to test the functionality of a product for market viability.

Because of it's numerous uses, many people have gravitated towards rapid prototyping manufacturing, but the technology may not be beneficial to everyone.

This list is not in any order of importance and includes and is not limited to:

Post Manufacturing Design Flaws – Although a prototype created via 3D printing and CAD can be fairly stable, the additives used may not be suitable for every industry. For example, the medical and health related industries may find that the end product is not long term sustainable, which can cause problems when trying to demonstrate new techniques or products in the field. This is also largely be due to the fact that the tool surface finish is often rough, whereas many medical instruments have to be clean, clear and smooth. This is not to say that Rapid Prototyping may not be useful or other types of modeling, only that there may be a large variety of industries that may find this type of prototypical solution nonviable.

Not all that Rapid – although it has rapid in the name, truth be told, the 3D Additive Layering process can be rather time consumptive and lengthy. Indeed, building a single component could literally take several hours or days. This can be particularly problematic if one needs the item in question quickly. Developers and engineers beholden to a schedule may also find the slower process of little advantage to them. That said, a 3D printing option may be viable if there are no mechanical or moving parts involved.

The more mechanisms and parts that have to be designed, the longer the whole thing can take. This of course, leads us to another trouble area – Money – Depending on the nature of the project, 3D Printing can be cost effective or really hit the pocket book hard. As stated previously, people in the health or even aeronautic industries may not find additive prototype printing of benefit. A number of factors can create issues with cash flow as this industry often deals with complex machinery with moving parts. This will mean that models and prototypes are going to have to be mechanical in some way. Building a mechanical product with Rapid Prototyping will take a lot of time and can be budget draining.

Customization can be had, but may be limited – 3D printing and additive based rapid prototyping can reach fairly consistent measurements, but may only go so far in its intricacy. This limitation could create issues when it comes to the nuts and bolts aspect of a project. Engineers and designer who may desire to have their model be as true to life as possible for showcasing purpose may have to consider another option, such as EDM or CNC machining, to get the precision sculpting they need for a fine tuned, fully functioning prototype.

Making Changes – A plus and minus – it has been said that 3D Printing allows the client to make changes quickly, enabling them to tweak the end product to their liking. While this is true to an extent, there are code issues that can crop up that make this process a wee bit daunting. That said, these issues can be worked around should a client truly desire to utilize additive printing for their modeling projects.

If you are a designer or engineer looking to bring your content art to life, check out all the advantages and disadvantage of Rapid Prototyping before investing time and money. A qualified machining shop with ISO 9001:2008 certification would be your best bet, so shop around and investigate before you buy. It could be well worth the time and effort in the end.

General Prototype and Production Manufacturing Services
Visit www.ArbiserMachine.com | Perfecting Speed & Precision
Phone: 770.939.1240

-- Unparalleled Precision Laser Engraving and Etching Service
-- 4 Hour Quote: Got drawings? Send them our way and let us take a look. 
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