Aerotech - Motion Control Systems for Medical Device Manufacturing

Since 1970, Aerotech has designed and manufactured the highest performance motion control and positioning systems for our customers in industry, government, science, and research institutions around the world.

Aerotech’s high precision, high-throughput motion solutions provide the critical performance for today’s demanding applications in medical device manufacturing.

HIGH-SPEED CYLINDRICAL LASER CUTTING SYSTEMS

Many laser cutting and welding processes require the handling of cylindrical or bar stock type materials. Aerotech has an extensive line of products from component level solutions to optimized combination linear/rotary motion system designed to automate the handling of these applications.

Direct drive technology coupled with a frictionless rotary union for collet actuation enable speed of in excess of 2,000rpm for high-throughput applications. ER collets are available for precision cylindrical gripping applications with a three jaw concentric gripper for ID/OD and odd form profiles.

MOTION CONTROL FOR 3D LASER CUTTING AND WELDING

3D laser cutting and welding applications require a combination of both linear and rotary axis motion to ensure that the laser beam delivery is perpendicular to the part at any point. As a complete system level provider Aerotech can supply a precision aligned multi-axis articulated system with micron-level rotary axis of intersection and arc-second orthogonality between axes.

Systems can be based on split bridge (separate X and Y axes), gantry, remote Z or any combination in between. All stages are sealed against environmental contamination for use in 24/7 cutting and welding applications.

2D LASER CUTTING AND WELDING

Aerotech has a broad range of solutions available for 2D and 2.5D laser cutting and welding applications. Systems can be configured with traditional stacked X/Y orientations, split axes with the X on the base and Y on a bridge or full gantry systems with flying optics or fiber-based beam delivery.

STENT MANUFACTURING

VascuLathe™ represents a revolutionary approach to satisfying the demanding requirements of stent manufacturing applications. The fully integrated motion system couples automated material handling functionality with high performance direct drive linear and rotary motion capability. The integral linear-rotary design increases throughput by two to five times when compared to traditional screw-based manufacturing approaches, while still maintaining sub-micron tolerances on tight part geometries.

The increased throughput gives much needed flexibility in the extremely competitive stent-manufacturing environment. The higher throughput of the VascuLathe implies that fewer machines are required to produce an equivalent number of stents when compared to traditional manufacturing approaches, resulting in lower total labor costs and reduced floor space requirements.

Alternatively the VascuLathe can be used to meet increased product demand within the existing manufacturing space saving the costs associated with facilities expansion.

GUIDEWIRE, CATHETER, CANNULAE, HYPOTUBE, AND ENDOSCOPE MANUFACTURING

Many medical devices and diagnostic tools are fabricated from tubular materials which can have multiple features integrated along their length. For example a hypo-tube may have a skive or slot on the distal end to facilitate the placement of components.

All of these products require precise angular positioning and velocity control during the manufacturing process to ensure consistent repeatable performance of the finished component.

Air activated ER collet systems can grip tube diameters from 0.2mm up to 30mm and can be used to position hypo-tubes, cannulae and other medical devices for laser and mechanical forming processes.

INTRAOCULAR AND CONTACT LENS MANUFACTURING

Intraocular and contact lens manufacturing requires precise speed control, high radial and axial stiffness, and minimum runout of the tooling for precise manufacturing of lens. Aerotech’s LENSGEN system was designed to produce superior quality IOLs, contact lens, and molds with minimal setup, offering a highly reliable, completely sealed design.