Photodiode SFH 2440 L saves on mounting height in the design of heart rate sensors. It can be flush-mounted on the printed circuit board (PCB), with longer leads ensuring secure mounting and reliable solder points. The component also features spectral sensitivity for measuring heart rate. SFH 2440 L is a large-area photodiode with the same…
Chassis system drives 24-station medical assembly
Edited by Mike Santora A west-coast medical parts manufacturer was recently faced with the challenge of creating a closed female luer valve with a robust system featuring 24 install stations for a 3-5 piece assembly production process. This manufacturer’s medical product line provides patients and caregivers with devices that help improve patient outcomes by minimizing…
Multilayer 3D printing adds conductive properties to fabric
The day when we will be wearing clothing with electronics built in is approaching fast. The textile industry wants to produce “smart” textiles that combine electronics with the textile fabrics. According to forecasters, the smart textile market today is estimated at $800 million and is expected to reach $4.72 billion by 2020, with a yearly […]
Injection Molding and Machining Resins for Medical Devices and Components
Successfully matching resins for manufacturing injection molded and machined medical devices and components means reviewing the types of materials available and reviewing the product usage. Usage considerations include temperature, chemical contact and resistance, applied stresses during use, transparency, opacity, aesthetics, wear resistance, lubricity and sterilization. Typical resins used for medical applications and components include PEEK,…
Designing a better exoskeleton
Listen in as Jeff Gorges of the University of Houston Research Lab describes how fast turnaround of prototyped and final parts helped the researchers move quickly on developing a futuristic brain-machine robotics system.
Make Parts Fast
Subtractive and additive technologies help design a better exoskeleton
Custom-machined joints, brain-controlled exoskeleton combine to enable paraplegics to walk. “Enabling people with lower-limb paralysis to walk again is an endeavor with a “high social impact,” says Jose Contreras-Vidal, director, University of Houston research lab. The United States has an estimated 6 million people with paralysis. Lifetime care for a 25-year-old who becomes paraplegic because of […]
More control over additive builds with Concept Laser Parameter Editor
Certain parts of the additive manufacturing process can be a challenge, especially for the process engineer setting up the additive machine for a build. Different parameters work better for different geometries. But, depending on the additive machine and the software you use, you may not be able to control these parameters, at least not without […]
3D Systems’ new focus on additive manufacturing
With a new president and CEO, 3D Systems used the IMTS Show to announce it is taking its 3D printing businesses in a new direction—focusing on additive manufacturing for production. To an audience of investors, customers, media, and others, CEO Vyomesh Joshi (VJ) said, “Rapid prototyping was the original application for 3D printing and will […]
EOS claims bigger, faster DMLS additive system
EOS will introduce its EOS M 400-4 system for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) at the IMTS show in Chicago (Sept. 12-17). Designed for industrial applications, the quad-laser system has a wider building platform, along with a new handling system. The additive system’s building volume is 400 x 400 x 400 mm (15.75 x 15.75 […]
Case study: Yaskawa improves turnaround time and accuracy for reference lab
Yaskawa Motoman recently collaborated with Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, Minn., to implement a state-of-the-industry specimen automation system. The laboratory handles tens of thousands of patient vials every day from more than 3,000 tests across the full spectrum of clinical laboratory subspecialties. Laboratory leadership wanted to continue to improve turn-around time from when specimens are received…
Chemically resistant 3D printing material
igus has expanded its range of wear-resistant “Tribo-Filaments” for 3D printing with the introduction of the chemical resistant iglide C210 printable material. Prototypes and custom small-batch components can be 3d printed and put into contact with chemicals and aggressive cleaning agents. The C210 material withstands a number of acids and solvents, as well as hydrogen […]
What the FDA wants to tell you about additive manufacturing
The advances 3D printing/additive manufacturing is bringing to the field of medicine are transformative. And the FDA has noticed. The FDA has become very involved in 3D printing, hosting a 3D printing workshop at the end of 2014, and working with several additive machines to get an understanding of what’s critical and what’s not. The […]
3d printing gives Olympic athlete a chance to compete
Decathlete Jeremy Taiwo’s Olympic dream was up in the air for the last year, partly due to injury and partly due to the financial pressures of training. But a Brooks Running sponsorship helped solve both issues. Part of the Brooks Running’s sponsorship agreement involved personalized sprinting shoes featuring 3D printed spike plates created by Brooks Running […]
Get to market fast with subtractive and additive manufacturing
Madelynn Martiniere • Director of Community • Fictiv Many additive manufacturing service providers are broadening their range of services to include CNC machining as well as additive printing. The combination not only delivers prototypes fast, it tackles complex design challenges. For mixed martial arts fighters, speed is a huge advantage in the octagon. Speed is […]
The Michelin Group and Fives enter the metal 3D printing market
Michelin and Fives announced the creation of a joint venture, Fives Michelin Additive Solutions, aimed at developing and marketing industrial machines and production shops through “metal additive manufacturing” technology. The new venture will be 50% owned by Fives and 50% by Michelin and will benefit from a financial contribution of at least €25 million in […]
Ring drive handles high torque and speed
The Compact Ring Drive (CRD) system, with precision grade bearing and drive mechanism in a sealed housing, is easily programmed. The three-drive design allows the CRD to handle high speed, high torque or both, depending on the application. With a 250 or 350 mm dial plate bolt circle diameter and a large open center, users…
3D printed cast mends bones and plays music
Who wants a boring, old plaster cast while broken bones mend? Instead, you can have an awesome cast with pressure sensors, bluetooth speakers to play your music, LED lights, gyroscope, accelerometer, and WiFi enabled Intel Edison. Meet BOOMcast, a 3d printed cast with embedded electronics so that a doctor can monitor a broken limb’s physical […]
Improving conductive 3D printing ink
Nano Dimension Ltd., a leader in the field of 3D printed electronics (NASDAQ, TASE: NNDM), announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Nano Dimension Technologies, filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the development of a new nanometric conductive ink based on a unique synthesis. The new nanoparticle synthesis minimizes the […]
Field-Proven Wireless Medical-Grade Foot Switches
Since 2004, Steute has pioneered the development of wireless foot switches for medical applications, with thousands installed worldwide controlling radiology systems, ophthalmic surgery equipment, surgical microscopes, patient tables and other devices. These units are designed with their proprietary, globally-accessible, 2.4 GHz frequency-hopping protocol. This bidirectional, 32 RF-channel protocol changes transmission frequency 200 times per second……
NEW Medical-Grade Foot Switches
Whether in diagnostics, the operating theatre or doctors’ surgeries, medical equipment must be operated intuitively if physicians and other medical staff are to be able to concentrate fully on their patients. In this field of very demanding man-machine interfaces, Steute possesses comprehensive expertise. Steute Meditec produces not only a standard range of foot and hand…
Latest 3D printing technology manipulates liquid metal through magnetism for faster build speed
The latest 3D printing technology to emerge for working with metal materials is MagnetoJet technology from new startup, Vader Systems. This patent pending MagnetoJet technology is based on Magneto Hydro Dynamics (MHD) or the manipulation of liquid metal through magnetism, and Liquid Metal Jet Printing (LMJP). In a MagnetoJet machine, such as the Mk 1, […]
Top 10 design tips for direct metal laser sintering
Each additive manufacturing technology has a number of best design practices to take advantage of that technology’s capabilities. Here are top design practices for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). (This information is based on a Design World webinar, Designing for the Direct Metal Lasers Sintering Process, presented by Jonathan Bissmeyer, Senior Quality Engineer for 3D […]
FAQ: Can I use Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) for prototyping?
Yes, you can. Depending on part size and quantity, the DMLS additive manufacturing technology may be a good option for prototyping components that will go to production using other manufacturing methods. With large bulkier parts, it may not make sense, but it can be a quick and cost effective method of design optimization. You can […]
Could femtosecond ablation become a new 3D printing technology?
Roland DG Corp., a leading manufacturer of desktop fabrication devices, is researching this possibility. Management recently announced the start of a joint research relationship with GPI, the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries located in Hamamatsu, Japan, to study the application of femtosecond laser technology to the fields of 3D fabrication and […]
Photo-etched tungsten parts excel in medical applications
Photo-etched parts made from materials such as nitinol, elgiloy, titanium, and niobium find extensive use in the medical industry. Tech-Etch in Plymouth, Mass., specializes in the photo-chemical etching of tungsten. Because tungsten is extremely dense, 71% heavier than lead, it often serves in medical applications, including grids used to collimate and attenuate stray x-rays in…