Technological advances have enabled the production of devices at increasingly smaller scales. Consider a typical smartphone today. It fits in your pocket but has greater processing power than a computer that might have taken up most of a room forty years ago. The miniaturization of technology (and of manufacturing processes) is what has made this possible.
Medical devices, as well, frequently rely on micro-precision parts with measurements typically occurring in micrometers or microns. While micro-scale manufacturing presents different challenges than manufacturing at a larger “macro” scale, it requires the same continuous cycle of innovations to overcome them and advance the field.
Trio Labs is breaking new ground in micro metal manufacturing for MedTech devices. Read on to learn more about the differences between micro and macro-scale manufacturing.
Understanding Macro vs Micro Precision
The terms “macro” and “micro” do not have distinct definitions in the manufacturing world. There is no specific number at which “macro” becomes “micro.” That said, the term “micro” generally refers to the manufacturing of parts with measurements in microns, or millionths of a meter. The following facts might put this measurement in terms that people can visualize:
- One micron is roughly equal to 0.0000393 inches.
- The average human hair is about 100 microns wide.
- E. coli, a bacterium commonly found in the human digestive system, is about two microns long and one micron wide.
Macro-scale manufacturing, in contrast, occurs at scales that humans can easily and clearly perceive in detail with the naked eye. Below are a few of the primary differences and considerations when looking for a capable provider of micro-precision parts.
Differences Between Macro and Micro Precision Parts Manufacturing
|
Macro-Precision |
Micro-Precision |
|
|
Scale |
Macro-scale manufacturing includes forms of manufacturing at scales measured in centimeters, inches, feet, or meters. |
The unique challenges of micro-scale manufacturing begin at a sub-millimeter scale. The cutting edge of this technology involves scales measured in micrometers or nanometers. |
|
Tolerances |
Even the most precise manufacturing system will produce some variations. “Tolerance” refers to the amount that a part may differ from its design and still perform its function. At the macro scale, tolerance is often measured in tenths of millimeters. CNC machining at traditional macro scales, for example, allows tolerances of around 0.1 millimeters or 0.005 inches. |
The smaller the scale, the smaller the tolerances must be. Tolerances at the micro-scale should be around 0.0005 inches or about 12.7 microns. Trio Labs regularly creates parts at 5-micron resolution (0.0002 inches). |
|
Design Constraints |
Macro-scale manufacturing has a track record going back decades or centuries. New designs may face a wide variety of challenges, but producing parts at the scale of centimeters or larger is familiar territory. |
Reducing the scale of a device changes its physical properties:
Designing devices at micro scales must account for these changes. It is not enough simply to reduce the size of a macro-scale design. |
|
Equipment Needs |
Traditional manufacturing techniques can produce parts at scales ranging from large to very small. They can even venture into parts at large micrometer scales. CNC machining and metal injection molding run into challenges, however, when the scale is reduced too far. |
Equipment and processes specialized designed for micro applications can reliably produce micro precision components. Trio Labs’ proprietary Resin Infused Powder Lithography (RIPL) technology is capable of matching or even exceeding the precision and complexity that’s possible with traditional CNC micro-manufacturing. |
Learn More About Trio Labs’ Micro Precision Technologies
Trio Labs produces micro-precision medical device parts for every stage of design, from prototyping to full production runs, with our cutting-edge proprietary RIPL technology. Contact us to request samples, receive a quote, or schedule a demo to learn more about how we can help with your next project.
