View All Case Studies | View PGS-100 Machine
Current Process
Kirschner wires, also commonly known as K-wires, are ground using a manual OD grinder.
Challenges
Low production output, as only one wire can be ground at a time. Changeover between wire diameters is time-consuming, delaying production. Grinding can leave burrs requiring secondary processes to deburr, lengthening production time.
Solution: Burr-Free Electrochemical Grinders (ECG) SG-1645 or SG-2060, ECG Point Grinding System PGS-100 from Tridex Technology, A Glebar Company
ECG provides burr-free and low-force cutting for applications with tight tolerances and heat sensitivity. The PGS-100 can be added to the SG-1645 or SG-2060 to grind points on the wires in large batches. For example, at .065" diameter, 55 K-wires can be pointed in one batch at a cycle time of approximately 2.2 seconds each. Changeover from one diameter to another takes only 5 minutes. Changing point geometry only requires a simple CNC program edit.
For K-wires that require multiple profiles, Glebar recommends its CAM.2 Microgrinder.
When added to the Tridex Model SG-1645 or SG-2060 electrochemical grinders, the PGS-100 is a fully programmable pointing and material handling system to manufacture a wide variety of medical device points on tubing or solid wire using electrochemical grinding technology (ECG).