The move toward smaller medical devices has established laser cutting & welding as critical methods of medical device manufacturing. These methods are complicated but essential processes for adding functionality such as improved steering, reach or flexibility when working with materials such as metals and polymers. In this webinar, TE discusses its laser processing capabilities in cutting and welding complex designs of metal components, from prototyping to automated high-volume production.
Customized Metal Tubing
TE has a comprehensive range of drawing, centerless grinding and straightening equipment that can alter the outer dimension (OD), inner dimension (ID) and wall thickness of metal tubing.
Our tube forming/drawing equipment reduces the ID and OD of stock tubing to custom dimensions, and/or can increase its tensile strength through the reduction process. Custom tubing can be sourced almost instantly from our robust tubing inventory to meet your ID requirements from .005″ to 1″, with ID tolerances as low as ±.001″ on some larger sizes, and ±.0005″ on smaller hypodermic tube sizes.
We can draw any grade of stainless steel tubing from 302 to 455, copper, nickel, brass, Inconel®, or other materials.
We offer two methods of tube drawing (Sink Drawing and Plug Drawing) and have the ability to create custom shapes using these methods.
Sink Drawing
Sink Drawing reduces the diameter of a tube by pulling it through a die without the use of a mandrel. In sink drawing, the ID is determined by the OD and wall thickness of the pre-drawn tube. This is the fastest form of drawing, and suitable for drawing of thick-walled tubing, as well as drawing of tubes smaller than .062″ OD where using a mandrel is not possible.
Plug drawing
Plug drawing uses an ID mandrel to shape the ID of the tube. This improves ID tolerance, and improves ID finish to as low as 32 RA (finer ID finishes can be achieved with ID Honing. This process is slower and more expensive due to the need for precision design and manufacturing of the plug and is limited to IDs larger than .062″.
Shape draws
Shape draws uses a combination of Sink and Plug drawing. We have the ability to precision draw material into different shapes and sizes of tubes, from ovals and rectangles to more exotic shapes. In the case of shaped draws, the mandrel supports the ID to allow for sharper ID corners that would not be achievable using Sink Drawing alone.
Centerless Grinding & Straightening
Centerless Grinding removes material without the use of a spindle. It is accomplished by placing the tubing or rod on a work rest that positions it between a regulating wheel that spins the stock in one direction, and a grinding wheel that spins in the opposite direction. By varying the distance between the wheels, highly accurate outside diameters and improved circularity can be achieved. Centerless Ground material can offer tolerances as tight as ±.0001″, and wall thicknesses as small as .0015″, depending on raw material starting size and material composition. By employing different grit wheels and tube polishing, we can also offer OD surface finish as smooth as 6 RA. Selecting standard ID sizes and grinding to the desired OD size can often be a cost-effective approach to producing a custom sized tube, eliminating the higher cost of set-up charges and minimums for redrawing.
Utilizing six-roll straighteners, we can straighten tubes to a minimum straightness of .001″ per inch and .010″ per foot. Our in-house Tooling Department can configure straightening rollers on a custom basis to straighten any size tube from 1″ to .010″, including custom shaped tubes.
Offerings and Specifications
Complete Offerings and Specifications
Please call +1 800-255-8823 (+1 800-ALL-TUBE) or request a quote for custom orders, products not available in our online store, custom lengths and large quantities.
Technical Resources
If you could help increase physician confidence, reduce patient risk and maximize revenue, would you choose to? In this webinar, TE explores various novel alloy options for interventional cardiology, neurointerventional and endoscopic device solutions. TE details the materials that can optimize catheter performance, improved kink and resistance, and easier device navigation, whilst giving you the technical benefits and challenges of each alloy.