Developing medical devices and components is one of the most challenging aspects of succeeding in the healthcare sector. In order to pass stringent testing, time and accuracy are typically the highest priority. Often times, the probability of successfully getting passed FDA regulations are directly tied to how fast the prototype machining can be completed or adjusted by a machinist.
Machining for Medical Devices
The development process in the medical sector favors machinists who can rapidly turnaround precise prototype machining. Manufacturers should also have the capacity to handle large, rushed orders in a timely manner. When medical suppliers need prototype machining realized or brought to production in a crunch, they rely on machinists with a wide variety of capabilities, including 3, 4, or 5 axis CNC machining, WIRE EDM, and CNC turning.
Machining and Developing a Prototype
CNC machining is often a part of the beginning and end of the product’s life cycle. The machining is relatively inexpensive and can be done quickly when needed. This strategy helps expedites the development cycle by allowing companies to test component designs in parallel. Simultaneously testing prototype designs that share the same density, scale, and strength of the final product can provide more certainty and predictability when submitting devices for FDA approval.
For many medical manufacturers and suppliers, the success of a new design depends on how well the prototype fairs in the FDA approval process. Finding an experienced machinist with the precision, versatility, and capacity to handle large-scale production is typically the highest priority for bringing a new prototype to market.
