Bone screws and other medical technology parts are stored directly on the turning-milling center without damage and in accordance with SPC / This has many advantages
The deadline for the implementation of the new version of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) expires on May 26th, 21st. Then, for the manufacturers of implants and medical technology instruments, stricter rules with regard to product traceability and quality assurance will apply. Strict adherence to the statistical process control (SPC) is necessary for the implementation of the quality assurance requirements.
Many implants and medical components are manufactured on turning-milling centers such as Swiss type lathes or micro-machining centers. In order to ensure economical production, bar loading magazines are also used, which guarantee a high degree of automation of the machine tool. In the case of series production with a bar loader, the manufactured parts are thrown out of the machine as bulk goods into a container or onto a storage table. This happens completely uncontrollably. Therefore it is impossible to guarantee the SPC (for example control of every tenth part) with unmanned or unmanned production.
Unloading parts individually and in bulk with SPC
A north German manufacturer of medical components is now solving this problem with a DepotMini C697M unloader from MECHA. Small parts for instruments and implants are manufactured off the shelf on various lathes. In the future, production should be unmanned and it should be easy and quick to check and trace at any time.
The special requirement here is that certain production parts are very sensitive to damage and must not be treated as bulk goods. It is necessary to save each part individually. The production time of the sensitive parts takes around ten minutes and the machine tool should produce up to eight hours unmanned. In order to meet these requirements, the unloader was equipped with 48 small containers. Each part is counted by means of a sensor system and then clocked to the next container. Each part is safe from damage in its container.
Simple mapping of the SPC
But the new parts unloader can do even more. The manufacturer also produces bone screws and implants that are produced in large numbers. The cycle time here is only a few minutes. It is a requirement of quality assurance that every tenth screw must be checked. It is precisely this quality requirement that is mapped with the DepotMini unloading and storage system. The DepotMini can be programmed in such a way that nine parts and then one part per cup are stored alternately. At the end of the shift, or in between, the separated test parts can be used to quickly and easily check whether the parts are dimensionally accurate and meet the QA specifications.
Cost savings through automation
The use of the new handling device thus ensures unmanned production, where manual intervention had previously been required. In addition, it seamlessly maps the quality inspection intervals and ultimately leads to a quick analysis if quality problems arise. The unloader also ensures sustainable turned parts production with fewer rejects.
Many implants and medical components are manufactured on turning-milling centers such as Swiss type lathes or micro-machining centers. In order to ensure economical production, bar loading magazines are also used, which guarantee a high degree of automation of the machine tool. In the case of series production with a bar loader, the manufactured parts are thrown out of the machine as bulk goods into a container or onto a storage table. This happens completely uncontrollably. Therefore it is impossible to guarantee the SPC (for example control of every tenth part) with unmanned or unmanned production.
Unloading parts individually and in bulk with SPC
A north German manufacturer of medical components is now solving this problem with a DepotMini C697M unloader from MECHA. Small parts for instruments and implants are manufactured off the shelf on various lathes. In the future, production should be unmanned and it should be easy and quick to check and trace at any time.
The special requirement here is that certain production parts are very sensitive to damage and must not be treated as bulk goods. It is necessary to save each part individually. The production time of the sensitive parts takes around ten minutes and the machine tool should produce up to eight hours unmanned. In order to meet these requirements, the unloader was equipped with 48 small containers. Each part is counted by means of a sensor system and then clocked to the next container. Each part is safe from damage in its container.
Simple mapping of the SPC
But the new parts unloader can do even more. The manufacturer also produces bone screws and implants that are produced in large numbers. The cycle time here is only a few minutes. It is a requirement of quality assurance that every tenth screw must be checked. It is precisely this quality requirement that is mapped with the DepotMini unloading and storage system. The DepotMini can be programmed in such a way that nine parts and then one part per cup are stored alternately. At the end of the shift, or in between, the separated test parts can be used to quickly and easily check whether the parts are dimensionally accurate and meet the QA specifications.
Cost savings through automation
The use of the new handling device thus ensures unmanned production, where manual intervention had previously been required. In addition, it seamlessly maps the quality inspection intervals and ultimately leads to a quick analysis if quality problems arise. The unloader also ensures sustainable turned parts production with fewer rejects.
MAW Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH
MAW Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH is a long-established commercial agency for machine tools and automation systems and represents well-known medium-sized mechanical engineering companies from Switzerland and the Netherlands, predominantly in exclusive sales throughout Germany. Our supply partners are constantly developing new and improving existing machines with the aim of further increasing the productivity of our customers.
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