BENDING TEST FIXTURE
Design Solution
BENDING TEST FIXTURE PROJECT SUMMARY
A medical device customer needed a solution to measure the rigidity of flexible catheter shafts, and to do so within an extremely aggressive time frame. The fixture needed to accommodate a variety of different devices, and allow for the bending test to be carried out along the entire length of the device’s shaft.
PROJECT DATA
TEAM:
Mechanical engineers
DESIGN TOOLS USED:
SolidWorks 3D CAD
MARKET:
Medical devices
Design Solution
CYCLE TESTER TEST FIXTURE PROJECT SUMMARY
A medical device customer needed a solution to prevent repetitive stress injuries in their operators for an application that required cycling a device many thousands of times. The fixture needed to perform several functions, including actuations of three different device mechanisms and feed advancement of a film, all in an automated manner. It also needed to accommodate three different device lengths. The customer also needed the ability for an operator to easily reprogram the cycle process to alter several different parameters depending on the type of cycle test that was being performed.
Pipeline developed a modular mechanical solution to accommodate all three device lengths. Three air cylinders were integrated to control the actuations of the three different device mechanisms, and a motor was used to advance the feed of the film. A custom Visual Basic program was created that allowed the operator to control the automation of the fixture, as well as easily reprogram it using a series of drop down menus. A foot pedal was also added to further simplify the operation of the cycle tester.
PROJECT DATA
TEAM:
Mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, machine shop vendor
DESIGN TOOLS USED:
Tools Used: SolidWorks 3D CAD, Visual Basic
MARKET:
Medical devices
Design Solution
FORCE ACTUATION FIXTURE TEST FIXTURE PROJECT SUMMARY
A medical device manufacturer approached Pipeline about building a machine that would allow them to measure the force required to actuate a mechanism on their device in a repeatable manner. The mechanism required very little force to actuate and thus was extremely sensitive to actuation force. Furthermore, the fixture needed to accommodate three very devices each with its own set of unique geometry. Finally, the customer requested that the actuation be motorized and controlled via a custom software interface.
Pipeline developed modular holder elements (one for each unique device) that could be quickly and easily swapped in and out of the main fixture. A high-precision/low force value in-line load cell was selected from Futek and integrated into a nearly frictionless custom carriage. This carriage interfaced with the devices’ handles and actuated the handle mechanism. A Lexium MDrive motor was integrated into a lead screw linear actuator to automate the motion of the carriage/load cell. Finally, a custom LabVIEW program was written to facilitate the motion profile requested by the customer. The finished assembly was delivered to the customer as a turnkey solution.
PROJECT DATA
TEAM:
Mechanical engineer, programmer, machine shop vendor
DESIGN TOOLS USED:
SolidWorks 3D CAD, LabVIEW
MARKET:
Medical devices
Design Solution
3-AXIS MOTORIZED TEST FIXTURE PROJECT SUMMARY
Pipeline’s customer had developed a manual process for testing an ultrasonic medical device during their R&D validation procedure, and needed to turn this into an automated production process. Pipeline was asked to redesign the mechanical assembly and incorporate motors to facilitate the automation of the test fixture, as well as provide software programming to drive the motors. Also, some areas of the fixture would be submerged and thus required materials that would not corrode.
Pipeline designed a 3-axis motorized fixture that automated the positioning of the medical device relative to a precision-machined echo plate. The motors controlled pitch, yaw, and displacement via a custom LabVIEW program. The entire system was retrofit into an existing test bed, and 316L stainless steel components were used to withstand extended use in the corrosive environment. A lift assist mechanism was also incorporated to help operators move the fixture in and out of its functional position. Once the engineering development was complete Pipeline machined the custom components, built the mechanical assembly, wired the electrical system, and installed the fixture on site at the customer’s facility.
PROJECT DATA
TEAM:
Mechanical engineer, programmer, machine shop vendor
DESIGN TOOLS USED:
Tools Used: SolidWorks 3D CAD, LabVIEW
MARKET:
Medical devices
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
• Need
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Pipeline was tasked to developing an automated test fixture that would apply various loads to a medical device in order to characterize its mode of failure (so that these failure modes could then be mitigated with next gen design changes). The fixture needed to allow for application of axial and torsional loads (at the same time), while also measuring these loads in real time. A module to apply bending moments to the DUT (device under test) was also required. Finally, these features had to be controlled from laptop
Pipeline’s engineers were able to design a mechanism that allowed for low-friction axial motion while applying transmitting torsional loads at the same time. An in line rotary sensor was used in combination with a small load cell. An integrated motor was integrated with a linear actuator to achieve the bending moment on the DUT. Last, a custom LabVIEW program was created in which an operator could control the motor displacement as well as see a rea time graph of axial and rotational loads (the graphed data was also exportable to Excel for further analysis)
Test Solution 1
THERMAL IMAGING TEST FIXTURE
Description if necessary
Test Solution 2
THERMAL IMAGING TEST FIXTURE
Description if necessary