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Meier Tool and Engineering Launches New Website
Anoka, Minn., Sept. 3, 2009—Meier Tool & Engineering (MTE), a company specializing in the development and production of small and miniature sized metalformed components and sub-assemblies for demanding applications has launched a completely new website. Visit it at www.meiertool.com.
MTE is one of only a few metal stamping suppliers with quality systems certified to ISO 13485. The new website shows case studies and other useful information for those product designers who are interested in not only miniaturization techniques but also converting from expensive manufacturing processes like production machining and metal injection molding (MIM) to the extremely tight tolerance and cost-effective metalforming process. Difficult-to-machine alloys are good candidates for this conversion process. By visiting the new website, you'll learn that MTE has experience developing and producing precision metalformed components from a broad range of raw material alloys and tempers including engineered material systems.
Meier Tool and Engineering Purchased by the Cretex Companies.
Anoka, Minn., December 29, 2008- Richard Meier, president and founder of Meier Tool & Engineering Inc, (meiertool.com) announces the sale of the company to Cretex Companies, Inc. of Elk River, Minnesota. Established in 1979, Meier Tool & Engineering Inc. is a producer of precision miniature and micro-sized metal stamped components and sub-assemblies. The company continues its operations under the same name and leadership team.
This is a strategic acquisition by Cretex. The family of companies already includes rms (rmsmachining.com) and Juno Inc. (junoinc.com) with capabilities in precision machining and molding of components and sub-assemblies.
Biopsy Jaw can be metal stamped.
Tight tolerance biopsy jaw and other medical device components can be metal stamped to eliminate costly machining from solid bar stock.
Anoka, Minn., May 2, 2008—Now you can reduce costs and improve time to market when you metal stamp precision metal medical device components. You no longer have to rely on expensive machining techniques that require expensive progressive dies and long lead times. Meier Tool & Engineering (MTE) has been certified to ISO 13485 2003 standards and is an expert at designing and producing metal stamped components for surgical instruments, implantable device and other medical appliances.
Not only can metal stamping reduce piece part costs, it can significantly reduce tooling costs as well. Metal stamped prototype parts can be delivered to you within 13 days. Full production pieces can be delivered in as few as 20 days. This biopsy jaw was delivered to the customer in 20 days. It saved them 55% in tooling cost and lowered their per-piece costs by 27%. Over 100,000 biopsy jaws have been delivered with zero defects. Additionally, the customer has said the new, coined-edge design improves tissue bite for improved surgical performance.
This newly designed biopsy jaw machining process includes stamping, deburring, passivating, EDM, trimming, drawing, piercing, extruding, coining and hemming. The process is all done on automated equipment. Parts are inspected right in the tool in real time, with complete SPC reporting and ISO 13485 compliant recordkeeping.
MTE engineers have successfully converted parts as small as the head of a pin from expensive manufacturing processes like production machining and metal injection molding (MIM) to the extremely tight tolerance and cost-effective metal stamping process. Metals that are expensive and hard to machine are good candidates for this conversion process. These include titanium and stainless steel alloy components for laparoscopic, endoscopic and arthroscopic instruments. By converting the manufacturing process to precision metal stamping, both piece part costs and lead-time are dramatically reduced. Meier Tool & Engineering not only meets ISO 13485; they also implement lean methodologies, real-time video inspection technology, sensors, and SPC to monitor and control processes and drive continuous improvement.
Medical Device parts supplier meets ISO 13485.
Manufacturer of precision components meets the quality standard while converting parts from other expensive processes to the more affordable metalforming process.
Anoka, Minn., March 15, 2007— Meier Tool & Engineering (MTE) has been certified to ISO 13485 standards through the independent auditor Bureau Veritas Certification. Specializing in prototyping and production of small and miniature sized parts and sub-assemblies, MTE is one of only a few metal stamping companies to be ISO 13485 certified.
In being certified, Meier Tool & Engineering meets specific requirements for quality systems and procedures for development and production of component parts and sub-assemblies used in surgical instruments, implantable devices, and other applications in the industry.
In addition to its miniaturization techniques, MTE engineers have successfully converted parts as small as the head of a pin from expensive manufacturing processes like screw machining and metal injection molding (MIM) to the extremely tight tolerance and cost-effective metal stamping process. Metals that are expensive and hard to machine are good candidates for this conversion process. These alloys include titanium and stainless steels used to produce components for laparoscopic and endoscopic instruments as well as various other devices. By converting the manufacturing process to precision metal stamping, both piece part costs and production lead time are dramatically reduced. Meier Tool & Engineering not only meets ISO 13485; they also implement lean methodologies, CNC video inspection technology, sensors, and SPC to monitor and control their processes while driving continuous improvement.
Micro-Miniature Metalforming Offers Reduced Cost and Repeatable Dimensional Control
July 10, 2004 - Meier Tool & Engineering Inc., Anoka, Minnesota, www.meiertool.com produces small to micro-miniature sized metalformed components for the Medical, Aerospace/Defense, and Specialty Electronics industries. The company develops and manufactures distal end components for single-use biopsy and surgical instruments. It also produces components for miniature sensors; wireless antennas, switching technology, connectors, telecommunications products, and other specialty electronics devices. Since the early 1990s, the company has been successfully producing miniature implantable brachyotherapy capsules, measuring 0.028 inch in their largest dimension, from 0.05mm (0.002”) walled titanium.
According to Rick Meier, president of MTE, micro stamping can require intricate and complex tooling, so volumes should be high enough to justify the investment. After the initial tooling investment, however, micro stampings cost less than MIM or micro machining, Meier says. The process offers outstanding dimensional control from part to part and the ability to process parts with extremely thin wall sections down to 0.001 inch, which Meier says is impossible to achieve by casting or MIM. Converting projects from other traditional micro manufacturing methods to micro stamping can substantially reduce assembly costs and improve product reliability, he asserts. In fact, he says, Meier Tool & Engineering has reduced its customer's finished assembly costs and, in many cases, improved dimensional control. One recent example is converting the manufacture of precision biopsy jaw assemblies from micro machining and metal injection molding to precision micro stamping.
The technical challenge involved control of the individual jaws and mating components to ensure precision alignment of the assembly. According to Meier, the biopsy jaw rim must have a well defined cutting edge without producing flash on the edges. “Stations were developed in the progressive die to process the edges to exacting tolerances and ensure that the jaws would extract a tissue sample as well as, or better than, machined jaws would,” says Meier.
In another case, the company successfully produced a micro antenna of 0.006-inch thick material and 0.008-inch features, which, it had been thought, could be produced previously only by etching followed by additional operations.
When asked about technical challenges that are unique to micro-miniature stamping, Meier mentions tooling. “Tool construction is particularly difficult because alignment of the components within a progressive die is proportional to the thinness of the material and the size of the finished part,” he explains. “Clearance between the punch and die components must approach zero with materials less than 0.003-inch thick. Collecting, counting, inspecting, handling, and packaging fragile micro components can also be challenging.”
Because micro stampings are fragile and difficult to handle, Meier Tool & Engineering uses non-contact video inspection systems on the production floor for in-process inspection and statistical evaluation. Geometric features are checked and tracked on optical comparators, microscopes, and CNC video inspection equipment. The company has also taken several steps recently to refine its micro-miniature stamping process, according to Meier. “We've standardized the die design to improve rigidity, dimensional control, and die alignment,” he says. “We've re-engineered the die build process to reduce lead times on dies by 50%. What had been 12 weeks for delivery of a precision die four years ago is now six weeks or less. Extremely complex micro dies for parts with intricate geometry can take longer. The shortest progressive die delivery we have achieved is three weeks and three days, for a carbide 10-station production die.”
Additional capabilities of Meier Tool & Engineering include rapid prototyping that closely replicates the production stamping die, high-speed in-the-die assembly, manual and robotic assembly, laser welding, and product design assistance for conversion of parts from other more expensive manufacturing processes to precision metalforming. For more from Meier Tool & Engineering, circle RF.
To learn more about Meier Tool & Engineering's capability, visit www.meiertool.com or call toll-free at 1-888-225-4755.