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Dale Gildemeister, Program Manager at Sil-Pro, was a part of the staff written article, "Moving Molding Forward". He took time to present a full array of responses that were not able to be included in the article, so they are presented here.
Q: What new/additional features/functionality can be incorporated into medical devices via molding processes?
Gildemeister: Soft touch molding with materials such as silicone and thermoplastic elastomers allow for some part features to be molded into the geometry without the use of mold actions to create undercuts," The ability of elastomers, especially silicone to expand over undercut features really creates options for the designers to add features to the molded parts without adding unnecessary steps to the assembly process.
Q: How is micro molding changing medical device design?
Gildemeister: As medical processes become less invasive and the expectations for rapid recoveries increase, the need for smaller devices is driving the need for micro-molded components. The tools used to manufacture micro-molded components are becoming increasingly capable over time. Developments in the molding equipment used to make small parts have improved greatly over the years and lately there have been improved methods in the construction of the injection molds themselves. These improvements coupled with a better understanding of materials suitable for micro-molding...