Jan Philippe Grage, Business Manager of 3D printing at Dunlee01.06.22
The supply chain disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reverberate around the world. The medical equipment industry has not been spared; raw materials and components have both been affected. It’s evident that the slow movement of goods can delay equipment production, frustrate customers and result in decreased sales. To help bolster manufacturing processes in light of these ongoing challenges, many organizations are exploring 3D printing techniques as a long-term solution.
Once the domain of tinkerers and hobbyists, 3D printing has evolved over the years to claim its rightful place in manufacturing products, which can range from finely detailed, 100-micron thin structures to large components for rocket engines. 3D printers now use a variety of materials and have created a market in which appropriate printing materials can be found for nearly any application.
One material on the rise in medical equipment manufacturing is tungsten. Tungsten is a non-magnetic metal that resists wear and has properties that make it ideal for many medical applications, including the ability to:
For example, anti-scatter grids that filter radiation that could adversely impact image quality in CT scanners are made of tungsten and manufactured with a powder bed laser melting method. These grids perform even better than their traditionally manufactured counterparts. Within cone beam CT, tungsten 2D anti-scatter grids have shown to provide an improvement in signal-to-noise ratio up to a factor of 1.7 compared to previous solutions. Among other components within the X-ray emitting source, some collimators are also produced with 3D-printed tungsten.
Manufacturing components for the medical industry requires compliance with strict regulations. Printing high accuracy tungsten parts for medical industries requires extensive process knowledge, particularly when preparing and creating the specifications for both printing prototypes and volume production. 3D tungsten printers can produce complex, customized components with details as small as 100 μm with a positional accuracy down to 25 μm.
3D printing continues to evolve from a tool that addresses niche needs to a technique that is being used to solve critical gaps in healthcare. Expect to see even greater use of additive manufacturing as knowledgeable companies discover the many opportunities it provides.
Jan Philippe Grage is the Business Manager of 3D printing at Dunlee.
Once the domain of tinkerers and hobbyists, 3D printing has evolved over the years to claim its rightful place in manufacturing products, which can range from finely detailed, 100-micron thin structures to large components for rocket engines. 3D printers now use a variety of materials and have created a market in which appropriate printing materials can be found for nearly any application.
Efficient, Cost-effective Prototyping
One common use of 3D printing is to explore new designs. Prototyping with 3D printing is both efficient and cost-effective. By enabling manufacturers to test out designs at a lower financial risk point, 3D may even contribute to greater innovation across various industries including healthcare, aerospace and more.Large-Scale Manufacturing
The greatest advantage to using additive manufacturing, however, comes after the prototype stage. Large-scale manufacturing using 3D printing can result in fast production of parts to meet exact specifications. Quality 3D printing companies do more than produce; they partner with their customers from product ideation to large-scale production, offering expertise at every step to make sure that the final product meets customer needs.One material on the rise in medical equipment manufacturing is tungsten. Tungsten is a non-magnetic metal that resists wear and has properties that make it ideal for many medical applications, including the ability to:
- Form complex geometrical shapes and small details
- Withstand high temperatures
- Shield radiation
For example, anti-scatter grids that filter radiation that could adversely impact image quality in CT scanners are made of tungsten and manufactured with a powder bed laser melting method. These grids perform even better than their traditionally manufactured counterparts. Within cone beam CT, tungsten 2D anti-scatter grids have shown to provide an improvement in signal-to-noise ratio up to a factor of 1.7 compared to previous solutions. Among other components within the X-ray emitting source, some collimators are also produced with 3D-printed tungsten.
Manufacturing components for the medical industry requires compliance with strict regulations. Printing high accuracy tungsten parts for medical industries requires extensive process knowledge, particularly when preparing and creating the specifications for both printing prototypes and volume production. 3D tungsten printers can produce complex, customized components with details as small as 100 μm with a positional accuracy down to 25 μm.
The Next Step: Sustainability
Now that additive manufacturing has transitioned from rapid prototyping to mass production, companies are focusing on optimizing manufacturing to reach sustainability and efficiency levels similar to those of traditional manufacturing. Already, initiatives such as powder recycling, optimizing machine uptime, improving the build process and increasing yield have begun to pay off.3D printing continues to evolve from a tool that addresses niche needs to a technique that is being used to solve critical gaps in healthcare. Expect to see even greater use of additive manufacturing as knowledgeable companies discover the many opportunities it provides.
Jan Philippe Grage is the Business Manager of 3D printing at Dunlee.