Fabrication

The performance attributes for this medical device application resulted in a compound component design that is extremely complex due to its small geometry and minute features. As a result of innovated tooling and thermal processing techniques, minimal secondary processing was required to bring the component to its final geometry. The part is manufactured from a proprietary tungsten alloy.

Results

Using metal injection molding in combination with tungsten produced significant cost savings for manufacturing, as well as for the patient and hospital. Using tungsten allows the surgeon to reduce the number of replacement "tips" during a procedure thus reducing the amount of time to perform the surgery.

Tungsten material cost is not trivial and the amount of material wasted during a machining/removal process as compared to the final shape after machining is greater than 50%