MTD MicroSeries
The MTD MicroSeries is a collection of medical micromolding industry briefs, based on 45 years of experience. We discuss a range of micromolding topics, from understanding the capabilities of micro technology to learning about the latest medical device manufacturing breakthroughs.
New
Issue 1901
Micro Medical Manufacturing Tolerances
Achieving High-Resolution, Ultra-Precise Features
Precise miniature plastic parts are the result of exact tooling execution. By understanding the tolerances of both micro tooling and micro injection molding, it’s possible to achieve a high level of repeatability and part accuracy for even the most advanced micro medical devices.
Issue 1701
How to Avoid the Top 8 Micro Design Mistakes
Recommendations for creating successful designs from the start
Nothing is more frustrating for micro part designers than to spend countless hours on a new drawing, only to get to the manufacturing phase and find out they need to make significant revisions or compromises. Learn how to improve the manufacturability of your next micro design.
Issue 1602
High Volume Bioabsorbable Micro Component Production
How to Ramp Up Production While Decreasing Piece Part Price
When OEMs prepare to increase production volume of a micromolded component, many focus on multi-cavitation tooling as a strategy to reduce piece part price. While increasing cavitation may be a cost-effective approach for higher volumes of simple thermoplastic parts, it is typically not the best approach for micromolded parts, especially those that are bioabsorbable, or made from other high dollar value materials.
Issue 1601
The Smallest Part in the World
From late 2010 to 2012, MTD Micro Molding successfully molded an EVA ophthalmic part that weighs in at 0.00000313 grams. It is an ophthalmic implant for glaucoma treatment. This feat required MTD’s Sarix technology to make a precise gate needed for such a tiny part. The gate measured .0018 x .0008 inches.
Issue 1404
The Two Great Myths of Micromolding
The Information Vacuum That Can Lead to Costly “Micro-Misconceptions”
Many design engineers express interesting, but incorrect, perspectives relating to Micromolded parts. Because Micromolding is an emerging technology with a shortage of accurate information in existence, this information vacuum creates fertile ground for myths and misconceptions. Most myths relate to the designers’ prior experience with normal or sometimes called, macro injection molding.
Issue 1403
Micromolding and 3D Printing
New photos show crisp, well defined features from micromolding
The advantages of 3D Printing as a model and prototype-making process have excited the overall product development community. This is because of quick lead times and new design freedoms that offer flexibility not found in previous tooling-based prototyping and modeling technologies. Therefore, it is natural that the successes experienced by those using 3D Printing in the “Macro-World” would inspire similar experimentation in the “Micro-World” too.
Issue 1402
MTD Leads Micromolding Material Science
12 Years of Developing Micromolding Processes for Bioresorbable Materials
Successful Micromolding relies on a balanced combination of specialized technologies and customized equipment, of which MTD’s 13-Element MicroSeries™ is an excellent example. The customer benefits are increased design freedom, improved manufacturing reliability, and world-class value.
Issue 1401
The Scientific Approach to Micromolding
Successful Micromolding relies on a balanced combination of specialized technologies and customized equipment, of which MTD’s 13-Element MicroSeries™ is an excellent example. The customer benefits are increased design freedom, improved manufacturing reliability, and world-class value.