Investment Castings for Medical Devices and Equipment Demands
The aging community is fast-growing. In fact, according to the ACL (Administration of Community Living), the population of the aging community is projected to grow to 94.7 million by 2060. The exponential growth in the aging population is driving the need for increased production and innovation within the medical industry, and investment casting is the key to answering the urgent demand for medical devices and equipment. The investment casting metal forming process provides accelerated lead times and wide alloy selection to get the needed medical products to patients as quickly as possible.
The Benefits of Medical Investment Castings
The medical industry relies on the investment casting process because of its ability to mass-produce high-strength, anti-corrosive parts with tight dimensional tolerances, critical surface profiles, and complex geometries. With the use of additive manufacturing for patterns, investment casting produces shapes not achievable by any other metal-forming technique. The process itself is also highly repeatable, as each part is formed from the mold’s cavity.
Another benefit of investment casting is that it produces components with smooth surfaces and excellent surface profiles that require little machining. Medical implants must have smooth surfaces—any inconsistencies or burrs are human safety risks. Castings can also be coated with materials like titanium, which are less likely to lead to implant rejection.
The overall benefits of medical investment castings include:
- Accelerated speed-to-market
- High Repeatability
- Tight Dimensional Tolerances
- Smooth Surface Profiles
- Ability to Manufacture Parts with Complex Geometries
- Little to No Machining Required
Applications
There are many applications for investment castings in the medical industry. A few of them include:
- Medical Devices
- Medical Instruments
- Surgical Tools
- Knee, Joint, Hip, & Other Medical Implants
- Wheelchairs
- Stretchers
- Operating Tables and other Surgical Room Equipment
- X-Ray Machines
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Machines
- Ultrasound Machines
- Ancillary Support Items (Pump Housing, Shields, Connectors, etc.)
Medical Investment Casting Capabilities
Barron Industries is an industry-leading investment casting manufacturer that can produce all types of precision investment castings for the medical industry, ranging in sizes from one inch up to 65. We work with over 200 ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, including nickel alloys, cobalt, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Beyond our investment casting abilities, we also offer additional services, including material and alloy selection, mold and part design, high-precision machining, welding, assembly, non-destructive testing, validation, plating, painting, barcode labeling, and supply chain management.
As a commitment to our quality, we’re also ISO-9001 accredited, AS 9100-certified, and NADCAP-certified for welding and non-destructive testing (NDT), including Computed Radiography, liquid penetrant inspection (LPI), and magnetic particle inspection (MPI). And, our ability to achieve everything in one location means we save our customers time, money, and resources.
Still Have Questions? Contact Barron Industries Today!
Barron Industries is a reputable investment casting foundry that has been in business for over 100 years. Our engineering and design capabilities, coupled with our vast knowledge of alloys and superalloys, ensure that we can produce the level of quality and precision that you require.
If you have questions about our medical investment casting process or want to request a quote, please fill out our online form today.