Automated Deep Hole Drilling Machine for Surgical Instruments

Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more prevalent due to obvious benefits of speedy recovery time and less pain and suffering for the patients. This has necessitated the need for tiny instruments that can drill small holes through long distances. These precision instruments often require thin-walled tubes, with fine surface finish and tight OD/ID concentricity requirements. "Given the large length to diameter ratios, these parts cannot be drilled on conventional machining centers and require specialized gun drilling machines," said a Nagel spokesperson.

Nagel/TBT DM 50 twin spindle deep hole drilling machines, designed specifically for medical application, now come with several automation upgrades. The machine consists of two completely independent stations and can be tended manually or with an integral robot housed inside the machine base and fully enclosed by the machine guarding. It can drill bores from 0.6 mm to 12 mm diameter range.

Some of the key machine features include:

• High spindle speeds of up to 24,000 RPM
• Servo part counter rotation and torque sensing for automatic detection of contact between part and drill bushing
• Tail stock on servo-controlled slide for automatic part length compensation
• Ultra-precision machined and laser aligned machine base
• Chip box design that can expand on top and bottom to keep the concentricity tight. "A conventional chip box design from other manufacturers is engineered to expand on the top only, which can cause the drill to drift as chip box heats," noted the spokesperson.

The Nagel/TBT DM 50 with integral robot is specifically designed for automating low-volume, high-mix production requirements. With a robot overhanging from a bridge on top, the machine uses little additional floor space. A finished tray can be removed and a green tray loaded when the machine is running to improve productivity. The machine can be run in manual mode only, bypassing the robot altogether for low volume applications.

For more information contact:

Nagel Precision, Inc.

288 Dino Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

734-426-5650

info@nagelusa.com

www.nagelusa.com