Titanium Milling and CNC Machining for Medical Device Fixtures

Background: Medical Device Fixture Requirements

Medical device fixtures require extreme dimensional accuracy, stability, and material cleanliness. These fixtures are used to hold, align, or position medical components during manufacturing, testing, or surgical preparation. Titanium is widely used due to its corrosion resistance, strength, and compatibility with medical environments.

In this case, the customer required custom titanium fixtures with complex slots, precision holes, and tight flatness requirements. CNC titanium machining combined with advanced titanium milling was selected to meet these demands.

Material Selection and Titanium Machinability

Titanium alloys were chosen for their strength, corrosion resistance, and long service life. From a machinability perspective, titanium presents several challenges:

• Low thermal conductivity leading to localized heat buildup

• Tool wear during extended milling operations

• Sensitivity to vibration affecting surface finish

Understanding the machinability of titanium alloys was critical to achieving consistent quality in medical fixtures.

Titanium Milling Process

Titanium milling operations included:

• Precision pocket milling for component positioning

• Slot milling for alignment features

• Face milling to achieve flat reference surfaces

High-speed machining titanium strategies were applied to reduce cutting forces and maintain surface integrity.

CNC Titanium Machining Strategy

CNC machining processes were carefully sequenced to minimize stress and distortion:

• Rough milling to remove bulk material

• Semi-finishing to stabilize geometry

• Finishing passes for precision features

Machined titanium parts were produced with consistent dimensions and excellent repeatability.

Dimensional Control and Surface Quality

All critical dimensions were held within ±0.01 mm tolerance. Surface finishes met medical manufacturing standards, ensuring smooth contact surfaces and ease of cleaning. CMM inspection verified hole positions, flatness, and perpendicularity.

Inspection and Quality Assurance

Inspection methods included:

• CMM measurement for geometric accuracy

• 100% visual inspection

• Gauge verification for critical dimensions

These processes ensured that all CNC titanium parts met stringent medical industry requirements.

OEM and Engineering Support

Engineering teams collaborated closely with the customer to:

• Optimize fixture design for machinability

• Improve milling efficiency while maintaining precision

• Support prototype validation and small-batch production

Design tools such as CAD, CAM, and CAE were used. Accepted drawing formats included STEP, DWG, DXF, IGS, STL, and PDF.

Applications in Medical Manufacturing

Titanium milling and CNC machining are widely used for:

• Medical device production fixtures

• Surgical instrument holding tools

• Precision alignment jigs in medical manufacturing

Titanium fixtures provide durability, stability, and long-term dimensional consistency.

Conclusion

This case highlights how titanium milling combined with CNC titanium machining delivers high-precision medical device fixtures. By addressing titanium machinability challenges and implementing strict inspection protocols, high-quality machined titanium parts were produced to meet demanding medical industry standards.