Micromachining plays a crucial role in the medical industry, covering various fields such as surface micromachining, bulk micromachining, and laser micromachining, providing high-precision and high-efficiency processing solutions for various utilizations. This article will delve into the classification, materials, and typical micro-mechanical components and applications of micro-processing in medical devices.
What is Micromachining?
Micromachining refers to the process of cutting the surface of a workpiece at the micron or nanometer level using mechanical micro-tools with geometrically defined cutting edges. This technology is often employed in fields that require extremely high precision, such as manufacturing optical components, microdevices, and medical devices, and more.
Different Types of Micromachining
- Surface Micromachining
Surface micro-processing refers to the micro-scale processing and treatment of the workpiece surface to improve its quality and performance. It typically involves several common methods:
| Micro-Milling | Uses small tools to achieve micro or nano-level cutting on the workpiece surface to obtain fine surface quality and high-precision processing. |
| Micro-Brushing | Utilizes micro-probes or brushes for microscopic grinding or polishing of the workpiece surface to remove surface defects and improve smoothness |
| Micro-Spraying | Leverages small nozzles to spray liquid or gas onto the workpiece exterior to achieve micron-level spray coatings for surface protection or modification. |
| Micro-Grinding | Apply micron-sized abrasive particles to achieve microscopic grinding on the workpiece facade to eliminate surface roughness and improve flatness. |
| Micro-Drilling | Processing micro-holes or grooves on the workpiece surface employing micro-drills or micro-hole machining tools for micro-scale applications such as fluid transfer and sensors. |
- Bulk Micromachining
Bulk micro-processing technology has wide application prospects in the medical industry. Through precision processing means, it provides unprecedented precision and flexibility for the manufacture of medical instruments, especially demonstrating enormous potential in minimally invasive surgery and biomedical research.
Definition and Principles:
Bulk micro-processing is a technology used to manufacture micro-scale three-dimensional structures. It also involves processing the material’s overall parts to create specific shapes and functions. Fundamentally, its core is selectively removing certain material portions to create complex three-dimensional structures.
Key Technologies:
It includes two key technologies: wet etching and dry etching.
| Wet Etching | A chemical reaction process encompasses etchants, chemical reactions, reaction products, and other steps. |
| Dry Etching | Provides reaction energy to the material to be etched through high-energy ion acceleration, with the most common form being reactive ion etching (RIE). |
- Laser Micromachining
In the field of medical device manufacturing, laser micro-processing is used for the production of micro-medical devices such as endoscopes, cardiac stents, and artificial cochlears.
Laser micro-processing typically includes several common techniques:
| Laser Cutting | Uses high-energy laser beams to cut materials, achieving high-precision cutting and processing of microstructures. |
| Laser Drilling | Utilizes laser beams for hole processing in materials, realizing processing of small apertures and high-precision hole positions. |
| Laser Ablation | Applies laser energy to evaporate or dissolve the material surface for micro-patterns and surface treatment. |
| Laser Welding | Leverages laser beams for precise welding of materials, attaining high-strength welding connections. |
The Benefits and Constraints of Micromachining in Medical Industry
Benefits
- Precision: Achieves high accuracy in processing workpieces, as it can cut and machine in the micron or nanometer range.
- Quality: Acquires excellent surface quality, resulting in smoother and more uniform surfaces.
- Complexity: Produces intricate and complex parts with geometric shapes that are difficult to obtain using traditional machining methods.
- Application: Boosts a wide range of areas in microelectronics, biomedical science, and the production of medical devices to meet specific custom requirements.
Constraints
- Cost: Requires high cost including investments in equipment, tools, and technology.
- Process: Demands sophisticated equipment and intricate processes, mandating high technical proficiency from operators.
- Maintenance： Maintenance of high-precision tools is vital, requiring regular upkeep and calibration to uphold accuracy standards.
- Efficiency: Production efficiency is comparatively low due to the exacting nature of micro-machining on workpieces, resulting in slow processing speeds.
Typical Micromachining Parts in Medical Industries
Here are some typical components:
Optical Switch Components:
These components serve to control and transmit optical signals, commonly found in medical imaging devices and optical sensors.
Fiber Optic Components:
Widely utilized for medical devices to transmit optical signals, such as endoscopes and integrated optical scanning devices.
Sonic Nozzles:
Employed in medical ultrasonic devices to generate and control ultrasonic signals.
Miniature Gears:
Micro gears serve as medical devices for transmission systems and precision instruments, such as pacemakers.
Miniature Shafts:
Micro shafts typically function to support and transmit micro-components, such as key components in ventilators and surgical robots.
Miniature Fittings:
Encompass a wide range of components, including connectors, sensors, and other small but crucial parts.
Electron Microscope Accessories:
Used for assembling and maintaining electron microscopes, such as electron probe microscopes and scanning electron microscopes.
Micron Surgical Scissors:
Harnessed for minimally invasive surgery and precise tissue cutting as a microsurgical tool.
Saw Guides for Bone Surgery:
Used in orthopedic surgeries to guide saws for precise bone cutting.
These micro-mechanical components play vital roles in medical devices, supporting the development and implementation of various medical applications.
Materials for Micromachining in Medical Industry
It commonly entails the following materials:
Metal:
Due to their high strength and thermal conductivity, metals require cooling fluids during machining and the selection of appropriate cutting speeds and feed rates.
Non-metal:
Non-metals have lower hardness and strength compared to metals but may possess unique chemical or physical properties. Proper tool selection and parameters based on material characteristics are crucial to avoid cracks or fractures.
Ceramics:
Ceramics have high hardness but are brittle, and gentle cutting is necessary to reduce damage, requiring the use of special ceramic tools.
Plastics:
With low hardness and good plasticity, controlling temperature and humidity during processing is essential to prevent deformation.
In conclusion, parameter optimization tailored to the different material characteristics is essential to ensure machining quality.
Runsom Precision – Your Trusted Micromachining Partner
With over 10 years of CNC manufacturing experience, Runsom Precision has become a reliable manufacturer for producing micro-mechanical components for surgical instruments, tools, and medical device prototypes. Our skilled machinists excel in custom machining part designs to meet the highest standards of the medical industry. Are you ready to start your next CNC machining project with us? We eagerly await your quote request.
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