Basingstoke, U.K. – Applications for medical technology are very important to Aerotech. For decades, the specialist for innovative motion control solutions and positioning systems has been supplying manufacturers worldwide with components and complete subsystems. Medical Technology Ireland in Galway now offers a great opportunity to present these solutions to a specialist audience. Also on display will be the latest generation of the LaserTurn 160 Gen 2 linear and rotary motion platform.
According to the trade fair organiser, this is Europe’s second largest and fastest growing trade fair for the design and manufacture of medical devices. New this year is the “Women in MedTec Forum”. “We were already present at Medical Technology in Ireland last year and at MedTec in Ulm in the middle of this year. The trade fair concept, consisting of a trade exhibition and accompanying conference, convinced us across the board,” says Simon Smith, Director Aerotech Europe.
The trade fair is aimed at the entire medical device supply chain – from development to the finished product. The organisers have deliberately opted for smaller, standardised exhibition stands starting at 4 m² to enable smaller medical technology manufacturers to participate in the trade event.
This concept is ideal for Aerotech as a supplier of components and systems: “Our customers in the medical technology sector include both large manufacturers and many medium-sized production companies and SMEs,” emphasises Simon Smith.
Linear and rotary motion platform for cylindrical laser machining
The standardised exhibition stands leave no room for large positioning systems – a circumstance that plays into Aerotech’s hands. “Our LaserTurn 160 platform is perfect for a trade fair like this: despite its compact design, it is ideal for demonstrating our wide range of applications and our expertise in laser processing and motion control,” says Simon Smith with conviction.
The second generation LaserTurn 160 is aimed at manufacturers who produce and process cylindrical workpieces. New features include an optional, simplified cable management system (CMS). The optional ASR1300 rotation upgrade also enables higher processing speeds and the precise production of tubes with diameters of up to 4 mm.
Another advantage is that the new platform allows components to be shared with the ANT130L and can be supplemented with optional elements such as a cost-effective alignment gripper. According to Aerotech, users in the medical technology sector benefit from higher product quality and increased efficiency – and thus from a sustainably optimised cost structure.
Laser-cut cylindrical medical devices are used in a wide range of medical applications, including structural heart components, coronary and neurovascular stents, peripheral vascular devices and instruments for minimally invasive procedures. These products, which are mostly made from raw materials, replace damaged heart valves, keep blood vessels open or are used in the treatment of aneurysms and in surgery. They range in size from a few millimetres to over a metre in length.
Precision redefined: the HEX150-125HL hexapod
Aerotech is also introducing its HEX150-125HL. This was developed for maximum precision in positioning. Its sophisticated design with simplified cabling and improved kinematics enables outstanding dynamics and accuracy. With a maximum payload of 12 kg and motion ranges of up to 30 mm linear or 30° rotary per axis, the miniature hexapod is suitable for demanding industrial and scientific applications.
Thanks to its robust, rigid parallel kinematic design, it is particularly resilient and ideal for automation solutions. Users in industries such as electronics, photonics, automotive, mechanical engineering and medical technology benefit from its high precision and dynamics – especially in quality assurance and measurement technology.
Simon Smith, European Director at Aerotech, emphasises: ” The HEX150-125HL was developed to enable more precise, faster and more flexible movements in confined spaces. With its combination of compact design, powerful control and easy integration, it offers an outstanding solution for a wide range of high-tech applications.”
