Trocar Pointing

Customer:

Medical Device Manufacturer

Need:

Automated process to Point Grind tri-facet Trocar. (Trocar is defined as a pointed surgical device.)

Manufacturing Challenge:

Automate the process to grind three facets to a symmetrical point, maintain  the overall length and geometry, produce a burr free product that requires no secondary mechanical intervention, and maximize the throughput.

Tri-facet Trocar consist of a Ph 17-4 metal injection molded head fastened to a long slender shaft. The head must be uniformly ground on three sides, at a bevel angle, to form a sharp point. The sharpness of the point and the intersection of the flanks must be sharp and burr free.

Solution:

Everite Machine Products standard product offering included a Model OS-1 Electrochemical Grinder which was fitted with custom fixturing to address the challenge. The Model OS-1 featured an oscillating spindle and dual tables for Electrochemical burr free grinding.

The OS-1 Electrochemical Production Plunge Grinder was an excellent choice for the application because the spindle oscillation facilitated uniform wheel wear and the dual plunge feed tables optimized production throughput.

Each table of the OS-1 was outfitted with a vertical axis, eight position, rotary index table, automatic part clamping, and an automated pick, index, and place system to rotate the trocar to the next facet for Electrochemical Grind.

The process consisted of a load station, where three Trocar, were manually loaded in a vertical position, at the correct bevel angle for presentation to the Electrochemical grinding wheel. The index table automatically moved the three Trocar through the grind position and then the automated pick, index, and place system rotated the Trocar to the next grind facet for presentation to the Electrochemical grinding wheel. Each station consisting of three Trocar, was presented to the Electrochemical grinding wheel three times to complete the cycle, and was then manually unloaded.

 The oscillating spindle facilitated uniform wheel wear while contributing to minimal part variance. The dual tables enabled the operator to load one indexer while the opposing table indexer was in the process of grinding.

The result of the Electrochemical Grinding Equipment process was a burr free, three facet symmetrical Trocar with keen, sharp features. The throughput was 300 pieces per hour and the grind wheel life was excellent due to the Electrochemical Technology.