Lasers in Medical Manufacturing
manufacturing process and save money,” said Shannon. “We think we’ve come up with a nice, elegant solution.” For this particular application the Miyachi Unitek tech- nology—with an estimated cost of $20,000–$25,000—can be used with a system that includes a $40,000 fiber laser to make acceptable cuts. Previously the process required a $250,000 ultra-fast laser, Shannon said.
To make the commonly required dark, or so-called annealed mark, on stainless steel faster is a challenge, as it’s very easy to overheat the part.
Joining Miyachi Unitek with new technology is Trumpf, with the second generation of its TruMicro Series, which was first offered in 2008. The TruMicro Series 5000 uses a hybrid design for laser-cutting metals and polymers. A fiber laser is amplified by a disk laser and uses six pico-second pulses for cutting polymer stents and other materials that are sensitive and react to heat affect.
Also offering revamped technology—and making it price competitive in the medical device market—is Prima Power Laserdyne LLC (Champlin, MN). Prima started selling its Laserdyne 430 just this year, but it’s based on laser system designs initially created 20 years ago and used since then primarily in the aerospace industry. Prima reduced the Laserdyne 430’s price by modifying its design: For example, the work area has been reduced to a cube that measures 23 × 16 × 20" (584 × 406 × 508 mm), a work envelope compatible with the size of medical device components to be laser processed. The cost of the control system has decreased as, for example, industrial comput- ers have become less expensive, explains Terry VanderWert, company president.
Also multi-generational is the system’s BeamDirector, a rotary and tilt axes laser beam positioning device that gives the 430 full 3D cutting capability. “It’s the cleanest head on the market today, without external cables and hoses that can interfere with parts being laser processed,” said VanderWert, who sees great potential for using the Laserdyne 430 to make orthopedic implants and process-formed and tube-based medical instruments. He also points out that his new technology can be used for laser drilling and welding as well as cutting, and promises
74
ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | May 2013
quick company responses to users’ changing needs for the 430’s operating program as the marketplace evolves. Essential to many cutting jobs is motion control that con- trols chattering, and that’s exactly what Aerotech focuses on with its VascuLathe Stent Manufacturing System and its Toric Lens Generator. “Potential users of the VascuLathe get the benefits of better
quality stents, produced more quickly, with easier and quicker system start-up,” said Scott Schmidt, laser processing and micromachining group manager. He promises a two- to five-fold increase in vascular and neural stent throughput with VascuLathe. That’s because Aerotech, Schmidt explains, integrates
VascuLathe’s linear-rotary system with material handling and wet-cutting capability. “Aerotech’s direct-drive and advanced control architecture also means better quality output,” Schmidt said. The Toric Lens Generator is designed specifically to create toric lens profiles (that correct for astigmatism as well as near and farsightedness) to manufacture contact lenses and intra- ocular (implantable) lenses.
“By limiting the application scope of the product, the TLG provides a smaller, less costly solution than competitive prod- ucts,” Schmidt said. ME
Want More Information? Aerotech Inc.
Ph: 412-963-7470
Web site:
www.aerotech.com/ Epilog Laser
Ph: 303-277-1188 Web site:
www.epiloglaser.com/
G.T. Schmidt Marking Systems Ph: 800-323-1332
Web site:
www.gtschmidt.com
Miyachi Unitek Corp. Ph: 626-303-5676
Web site:
www.miyachiunitek.com
Prima Power Laserdyne LLC Ph: 763-433-3700
Web site:
www.prima-na.com
Technifor Inc. Ph: 704-525-5230
Web site:
www.technifor.us Trumpf Inc.
Ph: 860-255-6000 Web site:
www.us.trumpf.com
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