Top Reasons to Use Sheet Metal In The Medical Industry

Top Reasons to Use Sheet Metal In The Medical Industry

At H&S Manufacturing, we deliver superior custom sheet metal fabrication manufacturing for many industries, including the medical industry. We are AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified to ensure optimal quality and compliance with strict medical industry standards. We specialize in everything from prototyping to large volume production, relying on our extruding, notching, graining, precision laser cutting, punching, and shearing expertise. Because of the many benefits of sheet metal fabrication, it is used throughout the medical industry for a wide range of applications. 

Benefits of Using Sheet Metal in the Medical Industry

The medical industry depends on custom sheet metal fabrication to create highly specific and precise equipment and tools. H&S Manufacturing’s high precision custom sheet metal fabrication services deliver products that meet the high standards and specifications of the medical industry. Our custom sheet metal fabrication offers several advantages to the medical industry, including: 

• Fast Turnaround Time. The medical industry depends on quick yet precise fabrication processes. Our sheet metal fabrication services ensure that hospitals and medical facilities can keep up with the demands of their patients and have consistent access to high-precision tools and equipment.
• High Accuracy and Precision. The medical industry requires precise and accurate surgical tools, supplies, and equipment to perform specialized tasks. Sheet metal fabrication allows us to meet the demands of the medical industry.
• Improved Customization. Sheet metal has higher pliability, bendability, and overall flexibility than other types of metal. Its versatility allows us to create almost any part, tool, or instrument and fabricate components with high specificity.
• Durability. Medical sheet metal has excellent longevity and is durable enough to withstand collisions, extreme temperatures, and various other environmental conditions.

Applications for Sheet Metal in the Medical Industry

At H&S Manufacturing, we deliver high-precision products using our unique sheet metal fabrication process. We meet the demands of the medical industry by providing products for many types of medical devices, equipment, and instruments, including:

• Ultrasound Machines. Diagnostic scanning systems help technicians study and identify internal organs. Sheet metal fabrication can deliver precise and high-quality ultrasound diagnostic devices for patient care.
• Ablation System. Ablation is a minimally invasive therapy that uses extreme cold, heat, or laser energy to destroy tissue abnormalities. Kidney stone and abnormal heartbeat treatments rely on ablation. Stainless steel fabrication delivers the high-precision that is essential to create ablation systems.
• Patient Alignment Systems. Patient alignment systems are used to position radiation beams and lasers for oncology treatments. Sheet metal fabricators must abide by strict guidelines when designing alignment systems for medical use.
• Nuclear Medicine Cabinets. Nuclear medicine cabinets are lead-encased cabinets with a stainless steel body for disposing of hazardous material safely. A circular 4-inch chute allows for convenient disposal by medical staff.
• Control System Solutions. These automated machine products consist of various sensors, switches, and levers. These systems require high precision, durability, and reliability for medical applications, which can be achieved through sheet metal fabrication.
• Image Reconstruction Systems. These systems manipulate data from body scans using mathematical equations. Surgeons rely on the results to visually reconstruct breasts, knees, hearts, and other body parts. High accuracy is essential to calibrate the systems.
• Medical Imaging Equipment. Spectrometry scan equipment, CT scan machines, and PET scan machines rely on sheet metal fabrication to maintain their efficiency and accuracy while meeting strict statistical process control specifications.

Quality Industrial Sheet Metal Fabrication by H&S Manufacturing

Sheet metal fabrication is an excellent manufacturing method for various medical devices and equipment. H&S Manufacturing has been delivering high-precision custom sheet metal fabrication services since 1968. We rely on the leading engineering and manufacturing technology to produce exacting tolerances with complex part designs. Contact us to learn more about our sheet metal fabricator capabilities or request a quote today.

Sheet Metal Design Guidelines: All You Need to Know

Sheet Metal Design Guidelines: All You Need to Know

In a day and age where fast production is the key to volume success, sheet metal fabrication has quickly become a key component of that process.

Sheet metal fabrication is essentially the mechanical process used to turn large portions of the material, like alloys, aluminum, and other metals, and turn them into smaller, more specific components of larger products.

Imagine turning a block of steel into military bullets. That’s what sheet metal fabrication can do for a variety of industries, from military and defense to lighting and home improvement.

Sheet Metal Forming Basics

Sheet metal fabrication transforms metal sheets into different tangible parts through actions like punching, cutting, stamping, and bending.

3D CAD files are translated into machine code, which instructs a machine to accurately cut and shape the sheet into the final product.

Bending and wall thickness are two of the most essential things to consider before beginning the fabrication process

Bending

Bending employs the use of a press brake machine to apply force to the sheet metal. The pressure from the brake bends the sheet metal at specified angles to form the final product. The K Factor, a measurement used for flat patterns, indicates the degree to which the metal was stretched during the bending process.

Wall Thickness

Wall thickness determines whether or not certain products can be manufactured from metal sheets or plates. It is essential to ensure that components maintain uniform thickness Typically, capabilities of 0.9mm-20mm in thickness are capable of being formed from sheet metal.

When considering wall thickness, it is good practice to use a single sheet with punches as a determinant.

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is one of the most efficient methods of cutting sheets of metal. Laser cutting uses a high-energy beam to cut different materials, including but not limited to metal, aluminum, wood, plastic, and rubber.

Lasers use computer numerically controlled programming (CNC) to dictate the sheet metal design and layout of cutouts with material thicknesses of up to 20mm. Laser cutting is one of the most economical cutting methods because CNC machining significantly reduces labor costs.

Tolerance

Depending on the material and the desired product, there are certain production thickness tolerances to keep in mind when determining whether sheet metal fabrication is the right production process for your application, including:.

• General Tolerances: Wall thickness, hole diameters, and bends are all tolerances that should be considered in sheet metal fabrication. Sheet metal parts with a minimum of 0.9mm to 20mm can be manufactured with a +/- 1-degree tolerance on all bend angles. In laser cutting, hole diameters should be larger than the material thickness.
• Curls: Curls ensure products are safe for handling. Curls should maintain an outside radius no smaller than 2 times the material thickness.
• Countersink Holes: Countersink depths should be kept under 0.6mm of the material thickness.
• Countersink Tolerances: Using standard angles, countersink diameters should measure between 2.3mm and 12.7mm. The tolerance for a formed countersink’s major diameter is +/- 0.254mm.

H&S Manufacturing: Experienced and Established

With over 40 years of industry expertise, H&S Manufacturing knows how to maintain tight tolerances, offer high-quality custom sheet metal fabrication services, and provide high-speed multi-tool solutions to suit our customers’ needs.

With services like precision laser cutting, custom sheet metal fabrication, and more, H&S Manufacturing will offer the trained and knowledgeable resources you need.

Contact us to learn more or request a quote today.

How to Design a Custom Sheet Metal Cabinet

How to Design a Custom Sheet Metal Cabinet

At H&S Manufacturing, we’ve provided high-quality custom assemblies to customers across a wide range of industries for over 50 years. One of our areas of specialization is electromechanical assemblies. We can fabricate individual components or produce complete custom box builds. 

Many of our electromechanical assembly projects require the construction of a custom sheet metal cabinet or enclosure. Below, we highlight the steps we take when designing one to ensure it fully meets the specifications and standards of the customer.  

1. Select the Right Metal Type and Sheet Metal Thickness

The first step in designing a custom sheet metal cabinet or enclosure is choosing the type and thickness of sheet metal that will be used for its construction. There are numerous materials options available, each of which exhibits unique characteristics that make it suitable for particular applications. For example: 

• Aluminum. This material is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it perfect for various cabinets and enclosures. It can also be finished in many ways (e.g., bare surface, grained finished, powder-coated, anodized, etc.) to suit different functional and aesthetic requirements.  
• Copper. This material is soft, flexible, and ductile. It also offers excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, which makes it ideal for certain electrical and electronic applications. 
• Stainless steel. This material offers high strength, stiffness, and corrosion resistance. Similar to aluminum, it accommodates a variety of finishing options. 
• Cold rolled steel. This material combines high stiffness, long-term durability in indoor environments, and low cost, making it a suitable general-purpose enclosure material. 
• Galvanneal. This material has a unique coating that makes it a better alternative to cold-rolled steel for wet environments. 

Once we’ve selected the type of sheet metal we want to use, we need to choose the appropriate thickness (i.e., gauge) for the cabinet/enclosure. See the table below for information on the imperial measurements to which each gauge corresponds for each metal.

2. Identify the Correct Bending Method and Bend Radius

Generally, sheet metal cabinets and enclosures are made by bending the sheet metal with a folder or press brake. A folder is used to form highly accurate bends quickly, while a press brake is used to create relatively sharp bends that are not possible for a folder.

Since sheet metal typically cannot be bent into a true 90-degree angle, the corners of bent/folded sheet metal usually have a curve. Different tooling and bending parameters result in different degrees of curvature. We pick them depending on the bend radius (i.e., the radius of the inside surface of the bend) needed for the cabinet/enclosure.

3. Choose an Appropriate Welding Method

After the individual pieces of sheet metal have been bent/folded, they are typically welded together. The advantages of welding a cabinet or enclosure include stronger and more watertight joints and simple and cheaper assembly operations. 

There are a variety of welding methods available, including: 

• Spot welding. This welding method is efficient and affordable for permanently joining two pieces of sheet metal in one or more locations.
• Seam welding. This welding method is suitable for joining two or more pieces of sheet metal along a continuous edge. 
• Tack welding. This welding method is ideal for discretely joining two or more sheet metal pieces along a continuous segment. 

Get Started on Your Custom Sheet Metal Cabinet Solution Today

Designing a custom sheet metal cabinet is a delicate process. If one element is wrong, the final component may not work or look as intended. Partnering with an expert manufacturer of sheet metal cabinets, such as H&S Manufacturing Company, can help you avoid costly design mistakes. 

At H&S Manufacturing, we have the experience, expertise, and equipment needed to design and manufacture a sheet metal cabinet that meets your exact needs. To learn more about our capabilities, contact us today. To discuss your specs and standards with one of our team members, request a quote.