CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
27 February 2008
Implementation Investments
Delcam’s CADCAM Aids Manufacture of Precision Medical Implants
Carniaflex, an Italian producer of medical components, operates on a small scale in two ways; it mainly produces short runs of parts, or even one-off items, and many have dimensions as small as 0.1 mm. However, the company is certainly not small-scale with the third meaning; it is one of the largest manufacturers in its field, thanks partly to its Delcam software.
"Our market has three challenges,” explained Carniaflex’s Angelo Rovere. "The majority of the parts we produce are for niche industries and, therefore, characterised by small to medium batch sizes, or special items for individual patients. Then, there is the extreme precision that we have to offer. Our largest components do not exceed 12 mm in diameter and many also have details of 0.1mm. Finally, we use medical materials, including titanium and steel alloys, that are both extremely long-lasting and lightweight, which have to be machined in a controlled environment.”
"For most projects, we use Delcam’s PowerMILL CAM system to machine designs supplied by our customers,” added Mr. Rovere. "However, we can design bespoke and one-off parts with the PowerSHAPE CAD software. The Delcam software enables us to move on from complex designs to the job of actually making microparts.”
Apart from the qualities of the programs, the main benefit of using Delcam software is the customer-assistance service that the company provides. "The back-up that Delcam Italia provides is much appreciated: the engineers have in-depth knowledge, not just about the software but also about CNC machining,” said Mr. Rovere. "This helps us to produce finished parts that are extremely faithful to the initial design and to achieve error-free production.”
Combining precision with an efficient rate of production is the key to the company’s competitiveness. "Of course, speed is only important if it is accompanied by the right level of quality,” explained Mr. Rovere. "The Delcam software has allowed us to come up with excellent cycle times. The ability to arrive at the shortest times is partly the result of an effective design but it also needs the right software, which offers the optimum strategies to machine the part.”
"Within the medical industry, every fastener or material has to be studied case-by-case by the surgeon, the dentist or the orthopaedist by examining each individual patient and their bone structure,” pointed out Mr. Rovere. "Therefore, it’s not easy to find a standard solution. As a sub-contractor for companies that compete with each other, the real differentiating factor is still dimensional precision. A good match to the particular patient is the best guarantee for a positive outcome from any implant. So, everything depends on the quality of the work of manufacturers like us and our suppliers.”
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