ISO Class 8 Cleanroom Secondary Operations – Value Add Offerings. At High Performance Medical Solutions (HPMS), we take pride in our ability to produce highly complex and innovative tube assemblies that would otherwise not be possible with conventional manufacturing techniques.
In-house expertise and machining allows us to create quick-turn specialty fixtures and dies to support new and existing programs. In-house secondary operations reduces the device cost while allowing you to reduce your vendor base and increase velocity to the market.
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RF energy raises the temperature on the stainless steel or brass mold, without physically contacting the mold or using an open flame. The tip of the catheter is then formed by inserting the plastic tubing into the heated die or mold to form the rounded edges.
The process of assembling everything needed to produce the product or job before it’s released.
Is the process of shaping the end of a thermoplastic tube using a thermally conductive mold.
A technique that focuses on straight, dramatic lines and clean angles with an emphasis on the details.
Is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mold.
Is the process of cutting material off in slices.
A process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific shape in a mold, and trimmed to create a usable product.
An indirect offset (gravure) printing process where a silicon pad takes a 2-D image from a laser engraved (etched) printing plate and transfers it to a 3-D object.
A drill scrapes away the material bit by bit, a punch uses shearing force to mechanically push through the material.
An extrusion which encapsulates a metal or fiber braided configuration between two polymer layers. Adding braided reinforcement to the thin wall of plastic tubing can improve burst pressure resistance, column strength and torque transmission.
Is the process of joining two surfaces together, usually with the creation of a smooth bond.
Tipping the end of a plastic tube is one of the optimized tubing solution services we perform for our customers to add value to their finished product. Through an extensive investment in our value-adding capabilities, our engineers have developed a broad portfolio of tipping capabilities.
We can form flares on the tubing which we manufacture to create easier pathways to insert medical stents, wires, optical fiber, and other instruments into the inside diameter (ID) of the extrusion.
We can form the end of the tube into a certain shape using different tools and machines.
For a variety of medical applications, braid reinforced tubing provides additional functional performance, holding higher pressure and improving the overall strength of the tubing.
The process of assembling everything needed to produce the product or job before it’s released.
Is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mold.
You can choose from alphanumeric text, symbols, marker bands, or symbol graphics to mark your tubing for just the right application.
Tube bonding is used to create a part with properties not possible though conventional extrusion.
A technique that focuses on straight, dramatic lines and clean angles with an emphasis on the details.
Skived tubing is often found in application where a hole in the tubing is desired after the tubing has been joined to another component. The skived hole then provides access to the lumen for wiring, irrigation, drainage, and other instrumentation.
Our drilling expertise enables us to handle volumes ranging from small limited orders to high-volume drilling operations needed for specialized assembly equipment.
Is the process of joining two surfaces together, usually with the creation of a smooth bond.
Ways of cutting tubes for a variety of reasons from holding tight tolerances to just cleaning up rough extruded ends. The trimming method will depend on the size and material of the tube, what the customer is requesting for cut quality, and the typical order size.
Automated cutting machine that easily and accurately turns one long extrusion into small final lengths. The machine has numerous options built in and interchangeable tooling that allows for precision cutting of most materials and is capable of processing sizes Ø0.010 to Ø0.500 inch and lengths as short as 0.020 inch. This machine can process a 4-foot-long extrusion down to 120 short pieces in about a minute with the right materials.
Manual trimming machine used to clean up the ends or trim a product to its final length. An operator must push down a foot pedal for the blade to extend. This machine is capable of processing tubes up to Ø0.500 inch. It has interchangeable bushings to hold the tube securely in place and there are multiple extension tracks that can be assembled to trim almost any length. Plastic bushings are made in house to fit almost any diameter. Custom shapes can be made.
Manual trimming is also used to clean up the ends or trim a product to its final length. The operator moves the slide to cut the tube(s). This device is designed to cut up to 8 tubes at a time by laying each one in its own groove. Interchangeable inserts mean this device is capable processing tubes up to Ø0.25 inch. There are multiple extensions that can be assembled to trim almost any length. Metal Inserts are made in house to fit almost any diameter. Custom inserts and
Additionally, we can create manual slits or angled cuts in tubes with the use of other custom fixtures. Some examples include slitting a tipped tube, cutting an external lumen off, or splitting a multi-lumen tube.
Any machine that uses heat to change the shape of an extruded tube. Most commonly used for tipping or flaring one end of an extrusion but also used for bonding two tubes together, forming the tube into a custom shape, and laminating or reflowing one material on top of another to create a multi-layered tube.
Other manual heat forming methods include using an annealing oven or a heat tunnel from extrusion along with either a die, a mandrel, or a combination of the two in order to form tubes into their desired shape.
Any machine that uses bits to create holes in an extruded tube.
Samples from Punching and Drilling Machines 
We have two machines capable of drilling and punching holes into tubes. Drilling creates acircular hole by spinning a circular hollow drill bit and drilling into the tube. Punching uses bits that just punch into the tube without rotation to form the holes. Punch bits can come in a variety of simple shapes (ovals,
semi-circles, etc.) and all bits come in a variety of sizes. Sacrificial mandrels must be used for most materials in order to support the ID of the tube
during the process.
Catheter guides are typically made in house as needed and custom shapes are possible. Sacrificial mandrels are typically extruded in house.
Any method used to assemble purchased components onto an extruded tube. Typical methods are adhesive or glue, solvent bonds, press fit, or screwed into place. Some components, like clamps, can just be slid onto a tube, usually accompanied by a luer and/or molded hub to keep the clamp on the tube.
One method we use is UV glue application and curing. Glue can be applied with a few different methods, depending on the glue in question. We have glue applicators that use a spring-loaded bushing to apply glue to the outside of an extrusion. We can also use glue in syringes that we then apply to the tubes manually. Both methods of glue application then typically requires the glue to be cured with UV light.
We also have solvent dispensers which are used to apply a solvent to the outside of the tubes. When the tube is then slid inside the luer or other connector in the assembly, the solvent works to break down the surface molecules of both materials, mix them together, and create a permanent seal as the solvent evaporates. (Solvent bonding will only work with two compatible materials.)
Other typical methods of assembly are simple press fit designs. In most cases, this involves a taper or a luer with ribs to facilitate a proper hold. Press fit designs typically have a lower tensile strength than designs held together with solvent or glue.
Other luers are a two-part system that gets threaded together while holding part of the tube in between the two components.
