Yang Zhibin, Marketing Engineer, Able Medical (Dongguan) Co. Ltd.12.01.23
Five-axis machining enables the production of components and finished parts with high precision for the medical device industry. It allows parts to be machined with a one-time fixture placement.
Since medical device components directly impact patient safety and treatment effectiveness, accuracy is crucial. High-precision components ensure stable treatment, diagnostic, monitoring, and emergency equipment operation. They can reduce the probability of malfunctions and the occurrence of medical accidents. Further, since medical devices require long-term maintenance, quality components help ensure equipment is easy to maintain, contributing to a longer lifespan.
Yang Zhibin is a marketing engineer at Able Medical (Dongguan) Co. Ltd. With a focus on medical parts and ISO 13485 certified, AbleMed is a subsidiary of the Kanou Group, which has more than 18 years of machining experience.
Since medical device components directly impact patient safety and treatment effectiveness, accuracy is crucial. High-precision components ensure stable treatment, diagnostic, monitoring, and emergency equipment operation. They can reduce the probability of malfunctions and the occurrence of medical accidents. Further, since medical devices require long-term maintenance, quality components help ensure equipment is easy to maintain, contributing to a longer lifespan.
What Is Five-Axis Machining?
The full name for five-axis machining is "five-axis CNC machine tool machining." Typical equipment involved with this process includes five-axis vertical machining centers, five-axis horizontal machining centers, five-axis turning centers, and/or five-axis CNC grinding machines. The term "five-axis" refers to the X, Y, Z, A, and C axes, allowing the machining process to be performed on all five axes without additional handling required. It is mainly used for manufacturing complex and precision components, such as parts and components with curved surfaces and irregular shapes.Applications
- Artificial Joints: Five-axis machining is used in the manufacturing of artificial joints, such as hip and knee joint prosthetics. These prosthetics require precise geometric shapes and surfaces to fit the patient's skeletal structure properly.
- Orthopedic Implants: In the medical field, five-axis machining is employed to manufacture orthopedic implants, including screws, nuts, bone plates, and screws. These implants require precise geometric shapes to accurately position and secure them during surgery.
- Dental Instruments: In the field of dentistry, five-axis machining is used to manufacture dentures and dental implants. The use of five-axis machining for these parts ensures comfortable treatment for patients.
- Surgical Tools: The medical field utilizes a variety of tools and instruments, such as surgical knives, forceps, laser knives, endoscopic intervention devices, etc. Five-axis machining can be used to manufacture these tools and components for them, ensuring their accuracy and performance.
- Rapid Prototyping: In the development process of medical devices, five-axis machining can be used to manufacture prototypes and small batches of parts. This allows manufacturers to quickly test the rationality of designs, facilitating the rapid completion of product development.
Selecting a Supplier
When selecting a five-axis machining services provider, the primary consideration should be quality and certifications, such as the medical industry's ISO 13485:2016 Medical Devices Quality Management System. A manufacturer with experience in medical parts manufacturing can provide recommendations in terms of material selection, machining processes, biocompatibility, and cost optimization. The firm should have the capability to collaborate with medical equipment clients to complete the entire project development.Machining Materials
Five-axis machining can process materials such as plastic, metal, and ceramics, including PEEK, POM, PEI, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, magnesium, nitinol, zirconia, alumina, among others.Well-Known Brands
There are a number of well-established, well-known five-axis equipment brands.- Okuma—A machine tool manufacturer based in Japan
- DMG MORI—A German-based machine tool manufacturer that provides high-performance five-axis machining centers
- Mazak—A Japanese-based company that offers various five-axis machine tools suitable for various fields
Conclusion
Identify the critical considerations required for your next machining project and then speak with potential companies to determine if they will best suit your needs for an upcoming medical device you are developing.Yang Zhibin is a marketing engineer at Able Medical (Dongguan) Co. Ltd. With a focus on medical parts and ISO 13485 certified, AbleMed is a subsidiary of the Kanou Group, which has more than 18 years of machining experience.