LAB READY
Notes from the shop floor
Practical guidance on manufacturing processes, materials and working with Lab Ready on orthopedic parts.
Wire, Sinker, or Small-Hole EDM: Match the Process to the Feature
Wire, sinker and small-hole EDM solve different feature-access problems. Use the drawing, material and inspection need to choose the route before quoting.
Read more →What Changes When Manufacturing Trauma Fixation Hardware
Fixation plates, bone screws and external hardware each drive a different process, tolerance and finish decision. Here is what changes the RFQ for trauma components.
Read more →Interbody Component Manufacturing: Decisions Before an RFQ
Define the material, feature-routing, mating-interface and inspection inputs that shape an interbody component manufacturing quote before choosing a process.
Read more →When 5-Axis CNC Machining Matters for Complex Orthopedic Components
Extra machining setups reintroduce location error between features. Here is when 5-axis milling earns its cost on complex orthopedic geometry, and when it does not.
Read more →Wire EDM vs. Precision Grinding for Tight-Tolerance Medical Features
Standard milling and turning, EDM and precision grinding hold three different tolerance bands. Here's how to choose between EDM and grinding for a tight feature.
Read more →CNC Turning for Orthopedic Implant Components: Pins, Screws and Shafts
Not every orthopedic implant feature needs 5-axis milling. Pins, screws, shafts and other rotational features are usually a turning job — here's when CNC turning is the right call and when Swiss turning earns its keep.
Read more →Swiss Turning vs Standard CNC Turning for Small Orthopedic Components
For small, slender turned parts like fixation screws and pins, how the material is supported during cutting makes a real difference. Here's when Swiss turning earns its cost.
Read more →Have a part ready to quote?
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