Medical device manufacturers ask a lot of their design engineers. Maybe too much: These on-the-spot inventors not only are tasked with creating truly unique designs, they also are burdened with balancing fit, form and function for their product. Manufacturability and a cost-effective development process only add another layer of complexity to their already difficult job. Luckily, though, there is lots of help available to designers, from firms such as Marshall Manufacturing Company. The Minneapolis, Minn.-based firm provides precision machining services for medical devices and surgical instruments; its specialties include computer numeric control (CNC) precision bending, CNC Swiss machining, CNC milling, wire electrical discharge machining, and electro polishing. Its CNC bending capability, according to executives, often allows stock to be completely machined before bending, orienting the features as the part is shaped. The company claims it can create custom two- and three-dimensional shaped diameters in tubes from .035 inches to .500 inches and in wire from .060 inches to .315 inches. Component lengths range from 5.75 inches to 60 inches. The company can manufacture components in various materials, including stainless steel, titanium, MP35N nickel-cobalt and L-605 (a non-magnetic chromium-nickel-tungsten-cobalt alloy with good oxidation and corrosion resistance as well as high strength properties at elevated temperatures). Its comprehensive list of capabilities enables Marshall to help designers create an array of features and configurations into specialized contoured tubes and wire components. The company also provides device manufacturers with a full range of needle tips for wire, including trocar points, taper points and bullet points. The options for tubing are just as varied: They can be flared, swaged, threaded, stamped to produce oval shapes, laser etched, burnished or laser welded. Additional services offered by Marshall include knurling, milling, stamping, broaching, burnishing, heat-treating, electro cleaning, electro polishing and plating. Laser etching also is available for part traceability. With this kind of assistance, it’s little wonder that design engineers in the urologic, cardiovascular, orthopedic, laparoscopic and dental device arenas have asked for Marshall’s help.
(800) 321-6727
www.marshallmfg.com