Asthma Inhaler Pins | Glebar GT-610 CNC
Challenge
Asthma inhalers consist of a medicine canister fitted inside a plastic sleeve. When a patient depresses the canister, a small metal pin called a stem engages an actuator inside the sleeve, releasing and delivering the medication. Precise mating between the stem and actuator is critical; any defect can cause the device to fail and improperly disperse medication.
Traditional manufacturing of asthma inhaler pins relies on single-part-per-cycle grinding across multiple production lines with extensive automation integration, resulting in a large facility footprint and significant labor and equipment costs to meet high production demand.
Process
Glebar’s GT-610 CNC Infeed/Thrufeed Grinder provided the ideal solution, combining high automation, data collection, and gauging feedback to grind and gauge multiple components per cycle in a single, fully automated system. Its two-axis CNC work-wheel and regulating-wheel dresser enable complex shape dressing for optimal diameter and roundness accuracy, while two independent slides control the regulating wheel and work-rest blade position to a resolution of 0.1 micron (0.000004 in) — providing faster, more accurate setup than traditional multi-machine configurations.
For this application, the GT-610 CNC was configured to grind eight inhaler pins per 19-second cycle, exceeding 1,400 pins per hour to meet high production demand. A bowl feeder, staging block, and pick-and-place gantry maintained a continuous infeed of pins, ensuring uninterrupted operation throughout the process.
By consolidating what would traditionally require multiple machines into a single automated platform, the GT-610 CNC significantly reduces production floor space, labor costs, and automation integration expenses. Glebar’s role as a single-source provider for both grinding and automation integration further streamlines the process — with system reliability high enough that typical installations require only one operator to run three or more machines simultaneously.
Contact an EngineerSolution: Glebar GT-610 CNC
The Glebar GT-610 CNC Infeed/Thrufeed Precision Centerless Grinder is a complete “lights-out” solution for applications requiring high automation, data collection, and gauging feedback. The fully automated system can grind and gauge multiple components per cycle. It can easily process challenging components such as arthroscopic shavers, bone drill blanks, and small powdered hard metal components.
