Deivi Silva
The Manufacturing Challenge
Medical device manufacturing demands unprecedented precision. Components must meet tolerances of ±0.0001" while maintaining surface finishes better than 8 Ra. Traditional workholding methods often introduce micro-vibrations and thermal drift that compromise these critical specifications.
Manufacturing engineers face a complex challenge: how to securely hold delicate components without inducing stress, while achieving the repeatability required for high-volume production. The stakes are particularly high in medical applications where component failure isn't just costly—it's potentially life- threatening.
The Manufacturing Challenge 2
Medical device manufacturing demands unprecedented precision. Components must meet tolerances of ±0.0001" while maintaining surface finishes better than 8 Ra. Traditional workholding methods often introduce micro-vibrations and thermal drift that compromise these critical specifications.
Manufacturing engineers face a complex challenge: how to securely hold delicate components without inducing stress, while achieving the repeatability required for high-volume production. The stakes are particularly high in medical applications where component failure isn't just costly—it's potentially life- threatening.
Northfield's Precision Solution
Northfield's advanced workholding systems combine magnetic clamping technology with precision-ground surfaces to eliminate the micro-movements that plague traditional mechanical clamping. Our patented magnetic field distribution ensures uniform holding force across the entire workpiece surface.
The system features real-time thermal compensation, automatically adjusting for temperature variations to maintain dimensional stability within ±0.00005" throughout extended production runs. Integrated vibration dampening reduces machine tool chatter by up to 85%.
- Uniform magnetic field distribution across 99.8% of contact surface
- Active thermal compensation with ±0.1°C stability
- Vibration dampening coefficient of 0.95
- Setup time reduction of 75% compared to mechanical fixtures
Measurable Results
A leading cardiac stent manufacturer reported a 40% reduction in scrap rates after implementing Northfield's workholding system. The improved repeatability enabled them to tighten their process control limits while maintaining higher throughput rates.
Engineer's Tip
When implementing magnetic workholding for medical devices, always verify that your workpiece material has sufficient ferromagnetic content. Stainless steel grades 416 and 430 work excellently, while 316L may require alternative solutions or magnetic inserts.
