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DSM Somos Stereolithography Resins Deliver Medical Industry
Solutions
For those developing medical devices such as inhalers, intravenous fluid
delivery pieces, yringes, surgical tools, diagnostic equipment and housings,
rapid prototyping success has been found using another Somos resin that delivers
a different set of material qualities. FineLine Prototyping, a stereolithography
service bureau based in North Carolina, uses Somos NanoToolTto create extremely
accurate high-detail parts that are also highly heat-resistant.
According to the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the
medical device industry grew to nearly $220 billion worldwide by 2006 and is
poised to grow by yet another 10% in 2007. In this fast-paced,
research-intensive sector, there is an increasing need for rapid prototyping
processes and materials that can cost-effectively produce parts with challenging
performance requirements including water resistance, electromagnetic
interference shielding and sterilizability. For many medical device prototypes,
Somos stereolithography (SL) resins are providing an attractive solution.
Clear, Water-Resistant Prototypes Vaupell Rapid Solutions, part of an
international company that supplies sophisticated molded products, has
participated in the design review phase of over 1,000 medical devices over the
last decade. During this time, they have successfully relied on
stereolithography for its accuracy in prototyping devices for the assessment of
form, and function.
One of Vaupell\'s customers is among the world\'s largest manufacturers of
chest drains (used after open heart surgery)-a device that must incorporate
clever methods of controlling and monitoring flow in its design.
Clear, water resistant prototypes are required to effectively evaluate
proposed chest drain designs. While multiple rapid prototyping (RP) processes
may be used (cast urethanes, CNC machining, etc.), a quicker, more
cost-effective solution has been found using stereolithography with Somos
WaterShedŽ 11120 resin.
With optical clarity and a low water absorption of 0.35%, Somos WaterShed is
also tough enough to use in functional testing (having a flexural modulus of
2200 MPa and elongation up to 20%). Since its initial availability, WaterShed
has been used a in multiple iterations of multiple chest drain designs to save
time and money, and improve function. \"Vaupell prides itself on using the right
prototype solution for the job,\" says Steve Ettelson, General Manager of
Vaupell. \"We\'re finding that a broad range of Somos resins-including WaterShed
11120- enables us to provide the best solution to our customers for the wide
variety of prototyping challenges.\"
Highly Detailed Prototypes For those developing medical devices such as
inhalers, intravenous fluid delivery pieces, syringes, surgical tools,
diagnostic equipment and housings, rapid prototyping success has been found
using another Somos resin that delivers a different set of material qualities.
FineLine Prototyping, a stereolithography service bureau based in North
Carolina, uses Somos NanoToolTto create extremely accurate high-detail parts
that are also highly heat-resistant.
NanoTool is a reinforced composite material with a heat deflection
temperature >500°F (after thermal post-cure) and a flexural modulus value of
10,000MPa. The resin\'s very low linear shrinkage (<0.001\") allows for
extremely accurate and high detailed parts to be made.
\"It\'s rare to find a material that is both tolerant of high temperatures
and able to create accurate, fine details,\" raves Rob Connelly, President of
Fineline. \"NanoTool does both with ease. In addition, we have many medical
device manufacturers who use NanoTool in combination with structural nickel to
make prototypes of parts that would normally be die cast or investment cast
metals.\"
In fact, a 20-30% metal-to-resin volume ratio using NanoTool is enough to
produce parts with a tensile strength similar to a variety of alloys including
Mg, Al and Zn, but in much less time. In addition, as little as 0.002\" Nickel
plating allows the SL parts to be used for electromagnetic interference
shielding.
\"NanoTool\'s extreme stiffness and strength, coupled with the toughness of
the nickel coating create a very stiff, strong part,\" states Connelly. Beyond
strength, NanoTool delivers \"amazing sidewall quality that requires little or
no finishing\" that results in faster production of metal plated parts With
Somos\' growing line of SL resins delivering clarity, water-resistance,
toughness, accuracy, and high heat tolerances, stereolithography is proving to
be a smart, cost-efficient solution for prototyping in today\'s
medical/bioscience industries.
(Ref:
http://cnc.industrysearch.com/cgi-bin/portal2/main.plx?file=12289.txt)
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