LAB READY
Notes from the shop floor
Practical guidance on manufacturing processes, materials and working with Lab Ready on orthopedic parts.
Titanium vs. Cobalt-Chrome for Orthopedic Implant Components
Titanium and cobalt-chrome both sit on Lab Ready's listed orthopedic implant material scope. Here's how the manufacturing route, not just the alloy name, actually differs between them.
Read more →How to Evaluate an Orthopedic Contract Manufacturer
Picking a manufacturing partner for orthopedic parts is a supplier-qualification decision, not just a quote comparison. Here is what to ask before sending the RFQ.
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 →What Rapid Prototyping Actually Proves for a Medical Device Part
Rapid prototyping means something different depending on what the part needs to prove. Here is how to match SLA, SLS, metal additive or CNC to that decision.
Read more →PEEK vs. Titanium for Medical Device Components: What Changes in Manufacturing
PEEK and titanium solve different problems in the same orthopedic and spinal programs. Here's how Lab Ready's listed material scope frames the manufacturing decision.
Read more →One-Off vs. Small-Batch Medical Device Manufacturing: Choosing the Right Process
Quantity alone doesn't decide the manufacturing route. Here's how design stability, tooling cost and follow-on quantity separate one-off printing from batch production.
Read more →Stainless Steel Grades for Surgical Instruments: What the Callout Means
303, 304/304L, 316/316L, 420 and 17-4 PH cover most surgical instrument work. Here's what each grade actually changes about machining, hardening and finish.
Read more →What to Include in an RFQ for Medical Device Machined and Molded Parts
The seven inputs that get a medical device machining, printing or molding RFQ quoted correctly the first time, without a round of clarifying questions.
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 →Have a part ready to quote?
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