An extruded tube with low friction ID and OD features Hoowaki LLC’s microstructured surfaces.
mance regardless of microstructure geometry consistency,” Cannon said. “Some of the major process difficulties in micro manufacturing are maintaining micro-size structures over macro areas at a reasonable cost. Hoowaki provides tools to
Jawnuts and Keys
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its customers so that they can leverage low-cost, high-volume molding and extrusion processes in creating the products with enhanced surface properties.” The medical industry, for example, is leveraging Hoowaki’s microstructured extrusion technology to reduce sliding friction in catheters. “The medical industry is also reducing the sticki- ness of low-durometer materials with Hoowaki technology,” Cannon said, “and the wire and cable industry is using our technology to make wire installation easier. “We have a customer who is reducing the friction of their current catheter by 80% by using a die and mandrel that Hoowaki micro machined. They sent us their extrusion die and mandrel, we micro machined the die and mandrel with a design that creates low friction surfaces on extruded products, and they extruded their catheters with the micro- machined die and mandrel,” Cannon added. “We delivered 100% of what our customer needed to extrude their next- generation catheter.”
Conventional Micro Machining
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More conventional micro machining systems like the iQ300 VMC from Makino Inc. (Mason, OH) are targeting preci- sion micro machining, noted Bill Howard, Makino product line manager, Vertical Machines. The iQ300 Precision Micro- machining Center offers the latest in Makino’s machine and spindle design. The VMC features a 45,000-rpm HSK-E32 spindle equipped with the company’s patented core cooling, under-race and jacket spindle temperature control system, which virtually eliminates thermal growth, deflection or vibra- tion during high-speed machining. The iQ300’s design also includes a cast-iron Meehanite construction base for rigidity, linear motors instead of ballscrew design, precision roller ways and a 10-nm, 0.005-µm scale feedback, Howard said. “The reason for the linear motors is that you can remove all of the lost motion and backlash for much smoother motion,” Howard said. “All of those elements are working together to allow us to get down to positioning ac- curacy of ±1 micron, and repeatability of a half a micron.” Along with advanced temperature control, the machine’s rigidity helps maintain precision for micro-machining applica- tions, he added. “Everything we build is a cast-iron Meehanite type casting. Part of the reason for the massiveness of the casting is that it serves as a heat sink providing a thermal con- stant, if you will. It takes a long time for that mass to change temperature. Now, realistically, anybody who’s considering