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Grinding & Finishing
Supplying today’s needs for precision medical instruments and orthopedic implants is a fiercely competitive business. As the baby boom population ages, demand for implants and surgical procedures of all types is expected to grow exponentially. But so has the demand for better-controlled surface finishes and tolerances, faster turnaround, smaller production runs and reduced costs. That’s where we can help, and it all starts with better science.
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The Science of Speed
3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasives are comprised of precisely-shaped, uniformly sized and vertically-oriented triangles of ceramic aluminum oxide. These self sharpening triangles are designed to fracture as they wear, continuously forming new, super-sharp points and edges that slice cleanly through the metal like a knife, instead of gouging or plowing.
This prevents heat from building up in the workpiece – reducing heat-related stress cracks and discoloration. And, because the abrasive itself stays cooler and sharper, it lasts up to four times as long as conventional ceramic grain belts!.
3M Abrasives for Orthopedic Implant and Surgical Instrument Manufacturing Brochure (PDF 2.35 MB)
Cubitron™ vs Conventional Abrasives
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3M™ Cubitron™ II AbrasivesAs the triangular shaped grain wears, it continuously fractures to form sharp points and edges that result in faster, cooler cutting action. And, because the abrasive itself stays cooler and sharper, it lasts up to four times as long as conventional ceramic grain belts!
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Conventional AbrasivesConventional ceramic abrasive grain is irregular and blocky in shape. Instead of a clean, machining action, the grain tends to “plow” through the metal, causing heat to build up in the workpiece and the abrasive – resulting in a slower cut, shorter belt life and undesirable effects, such as burnishing.
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The Science of Smooth
Scotch-Brite™ Abrasive Products:
The Scotch-Brite line of surface conditioning products includes a variety of non-woven synthetic fibre webs and moulded wheels impregnated with abrasive minerals.
These products are well-suited for cleaning, blending, deburring, finishing and polishing, and improve surfaces without significantly changing the shape or dimension of the workpiece.
Scotch-Brite abrasives run cool, and resist loading due to their open web construction. This reduces the risk of part discolouration and warping, while extending the life of the wheel..
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The Science of Consistent Finishes
3M™ Trizact™ Abrasives:
Derived from patented 3M microreplication technology, Trizact abrasives consist of very small, precisely-shaped three dimensional structures distributed uniformly over the substrate.
Unlike conventional abrasives, which are constructed from randomly spaced and irregular-shaped minerals, the uniform configuration of Trizact abrasives helps deliver more consistent finishes with higher cut rates, and cooler grinding and finishing temperatures.
The fast, fine, consistent finishes made possible with Trizact abrasives help reduce reject rates and improve worker productivity. In addition, Trizact abrasive belts can last up to five times longer than conventional belts.
Resources
Find 3M resources to help you with product use, employee training, or various documents - we have collected everything in one place to ensure you've always got a helping hand.
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Find a whole variety of 3M MedTech news articles and dates for events by clicking below.
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Interested in more information about our MedTech products and expertise? Click below to access our range of documents including white papers, case studies, reports and general marketing communications.
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