Recently, Yardley Products has been supplying custom sized threaded metal inserts in the assembly of insulin pumps made by a multi-national pharmaceutical manufacturer.
The manufacturer approached Tim Bailey, president of Yardley Products, about creating a custom sized insert in the construction of the insulin pumps. “The insert had to be incredibly small,” says Bailey. “It’s one of the smallest inserts we’ve ever created.”
The small size of the insert was only one of the prerequisites for the item. “This isn’t a recreational product; it’s a life saving-device, so we had to make sure our inserts were perfect for the application,” Bailey says.
Yardley worked to create an insert that met the needs of the insulin pump manufacturing process. Bailey opted to customize an insert from their Type AA line, which is designed for use in a wide range of plastics. The inserts are molded-in to the plastic housing during production. Although the thread is only .06 in diameter, the close tolerance of minor thread diameter and careful burnishing of inner thread crests provide a snug fit on the locating pins in the mold.
“This was a unique inquiry because most insulin pumps are so delicate and small. The insert had to have ultimate holding power and be extremely tiny at the same time,” says Bailey. “However, when we received this request, we knew it was an application where we could create a customized solution. Yardley Products has been in this business since 1946 and has extensive experience in manufacturing inserts to specific customer requested tolerances and designs.”
Currently, three different divisions of this pharmaceutical company are buying the inserts for their insulin pumps. Yardley is shipping as far away as Hong Kong to supply the inserts for their manufacturing process.
“This is such a great application of our inserts, because they are improving the quality of life for people wearing these insulin pumps worldwide,” Bailey says.
Yardley Products
www.yardleyproducts.com
::Design World::
Filed Under: Fastening + joining, Medical-device manufacture