Integra

A fully-engineered system for turning, thread cutting, milling and gun-drilling titanium alloy tips and transducers for ultrasonic aspirators used in the treatment of brain tumours has been delivered by Star GB to the Andover factory of US-owned Integra Neuro Sciences.

The tips are now produced 26 per cent faster, despite requiring a fine, 80:1 length-to-diameter hole drilled down the centre.
The machine package is based on a Star SV-20 sliding-headstock, multi-axis, mill-turning centre fitted with a JBS guide bush that is able to compensate for variability in the diameter of the bar, which is fed by an FMB Turbo magazine.

Fitted also to the machine are a high-pressure (2,000 psi) through-tool, neat oil coolant delivery system, automatic fire suppression and a range of tooling that best suits the various cutting operations. Ceratizit s are used for profile turning and threading, Iscar Multi-Master tooling with modified chamfers have been chosen for milling hexagon flats, while solid carbide Botek gun drills are sourced through Mollart.

Completing the total manufacturing solution supplied by Star were a suite of programs for machining tips and transducers to be used in Integra’s new aspirator range operator training and service back-up including telephone help desk support from Star’s Melbourne headquarters.

 

“ Better than 10 microns concentricity is routinely held ”

 

Rob Sellwood

Machine Shop Manager

Integra