Molding
Four tips for successful silicone molding
Although liquid silicone rubber (LSR) has been commonly used in Europe for a long time, some North American OEMs still view it as a “black magic” material because of a lack of internal expertise as compared to thermoplastics...
Plastics design and engineering
A provider of reaction injection molding (RIM) services for plastic housings used in medical equipment has introduced a collaborative process to help OEMs produce stylized enclosures and housings more efficiently while maintaining high quality standards...
Advantages of all-electric technology for molding
Cleanrooms are fast becoming a necessity for molders of medical products who must effectively address the many quality and contamination concerns associated...
Insert molding MIM parts
A proprietary process lets MIM components be plastic-insert molded...
Insert molding MIM parts
Problems with an articulation gear stripping in an instrument for minimally invasive surgical operations prompted a major medical instrument manufacturer to approach Parmatech Corp. to see about transitioning the gear from machining to metal injection molding (MIM). ...
‘Designershive’ blends injection molding and industrial design
For a peek into how an Asian medical-device firm might innovate, consider the example of Meiban in Singapore...
Explicit-based modeling advances medical-device design
Software with what’s called an explicit-modeling approach lets device designers work directly with geometries on-the-fly without worrying about underlying constraints...
Medical micromolding: Top 10 Tips
The design and placement of internal components for tiny medical devices is critical...
Think liquid silicone rubber for medical device molding
In a competitive medical-molding market, companies that bring integrated solutions using costeffective techniques stand a better chance of success...
The BioMEMs evolution
It’s not a revolution, but the BioMEMs evolution is certainly worth monitoring, according to Dr. Jeffrey T. Borenstein of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA...
Clicks reveal most sought-after 2009 articles
Modeling, designing, materials and manufacturing were the most sought-after topics on the Medical Design website in 2009 according to our Top 10 articles for most clicks. ...
Revolution in rehabilitation
Neurorehabilation is applying advanced technology for the healing and restoration of impaired body functions...
MIM gains might in medical
The technology isn’t new, but its level of sophistication and acceptance is fast growing. Since its commercialization in the mid-1970s, metal injection molding (MIM), which combines powder metallurgy and thermoplastic injection molding...
Register now for micromolding webinar
There’s still time to register for this week’s live webinar, “Precision Plastic Parts – Micromolding Is More than Small Parts,” this Thursday (Oct 8) at 2 pm ET...
The ABCs of Metal Injection Molding
Since the commercialization of metal injection molding (MIM) in the mid-1970s, the technology has grown in sophistication to become a leading manufacturing...
Rules are big when it comes to micromolding
Manufacturers wishing to cash in on the drive toward the miniaturization of medical products and devices need to know that micromolding is not the same...
Molder lets OEMs ‘get a grip’
A well-known medical-device manufacturer designed and developed a preproduction surgical tool that, unfortunately, did not meet specs and failed during...
Phillips Plastics and Pro-Tek Medical form Ireland-based CerBo
Phillips Plastics Corp., Prescott, Wis. (phillipsplastics.com) and Pro-Tek Medical Ltd., Sligo, Ireland (protek.ie) have launched the CerBo Limited joint venture, a design and manufacturing operation in Sligo, Ireland....
Thermal plastic works well as primary material and insulation
Bioconnect uses Santoprene as a primary molding material and outer insulation in all its standard ECG products...
Five tips for designing two shot, silicone-thermoplastic parts
Two shot, silicone-thermoplastic molding works well when placing a soft silicone cover over or in combination with a hard thermoplastic. A medical example...
Molder shoots silicone over thermoplastics
A two-shot silicone-thermoplastic is intended for molding medical devices. The technique requires expertise in processing and material compatibility, but gives medical OEM’s opportunities to design multimaterial components at lower costs, with fewer assembly steps, and greater design freedom. ...
Metal injection molding for net-shaped parts
Metal injection molding (MIM) allows manufacturing highly detailed, intricate parts that can weigh less than one gram. Proprietary injection molding produces net-shaped components to reduce the number of parts through design approaches that for example, combine machined and stamped details....
Multi-shot injection molding saves time on assembly
Phillips Plastics has broadened its manufacturing capabilities to include multi-shot liquid silicone injection molding (MS LSR), a process that combines liquid silicone rubber and traditional thermoplastics in one molded part...
Thermoplastic elastomers
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) combine the high-volume molding capability of thermoplastics with elastomeric properties of thermoset rubber, so they lend themselves to a broad array of medical devices, equipment, and packaging. TPEs offer freedom to innovate, solve problems, and they address key trends in healthcare....
A better way to inspect complex molded parts
Inspection and testing companies are increasingly using scanning devices such as lasers, white lights, computed-tomography machines, and articulated-arm...
Metal Injection Technology, and More
In the late 1970s, a group of engineers in Southern California got the idea to combine powdered metals, sintering technology, and plastic injection molding...
More Than Metal Injection
Over the years, we found that parts made by MIT were sent to contract manufacturers for further assembly. To streamline operations for all involved, the...
When to machine and when to mold
It's often a good idea to invest in prototype parts to confirm that a design meets its functional requirements before committing to steel molds for production...
Tips for Designing Molded Parts
Sometimes even the best of engineers may need help when designing plastic parts. So The Protomold Co. Inc., Maple Plain, Minn., (protomold.com) provides...
Building a Better Plastic Parts
Tooling limitations and structural requirements rule out standard injection-molding methods when making certain plastic parts. These include rod-shaped...
