Menghini Needles | Tridex PGS-100
Challenge
Traditional needle pointing relies on converted OD grinders equipped with custom tooling and soft grinding wheels that wear at a high rate, resulting in significant setup and changeover time and extensive mechanical adjustments. In most cases, parts must be taped prior to handling, adding steps to the production process that reduce overall efficiency. The primary cut produces a large internal burr requiring removal through secondary operations such as grit blasting or electropolishing, further extending cycle times. Complex needle point geometries, such as Menghini points, require a separate primary bevel cut followed by a secondary sharpening operation, compounding the time and cost of production. The challenge was to develop a solution that eliminates taping, pre-processing, and post-processing steps while enabling quick setup and changeover, capable of handling the full variety of needle point geometries used across the industry.
Process
The Tridex PGS-100 Point Grinding System serves as a fully programmable adjunct to the Tridex SG-1645 and SG-2060 Electrochemical Grinders, offering fast setup and changeover times for producing medical device points on tube or solid wire using the ECG process. Its servo-controlled design ensures high-precision rotation and repeatability, while an all-stainless steel construction provides the durability and robustness required for demanding production environments.
The PGS-100 is capable of producing any number of facets including tri-bevel, back-bevel, trocar, diamond, stylet, Franseen, Menghini, and custom points. Fully programmable part setup eliminates mechanical adjustments, making changeovers between diameters and tip geometries faster and easier, while simple loading and unloading tooling allows trained operators to run multiple machines simultaneously. By eliminating the need for grit blasting or taping, the PGS-100 significantly reduces cycle times and streamlines the overall production process. The system accommodates workpieces up to 4-inches (100 mm) in width and supports secondary operations including burr-free cross-slot grinding and notch cuts for biopsy needles.
Contact an EngineerSolution: Tridex PGS-100 Point Grinding System
The Tridex PGS-100 Point Grinding System is a fully programmable, burr-free electrochemical point grinding system designed for precise production of medical device points on tubing and solid wire, including medical needles and K-wires. Integrating seamlessly with the Tridex SG-1645 or SG-2060 ECG grinders, the PGS-100 combines high-throughput material handling with the accuracy and repeatability required for specialty pointing applications across a wide range of workpiece sizes. For high-volume pointing applications, the Tridex APM-SG Automated Pointing Machine Surface Grinder automates the entire PGS-100 process, continuously grinding on one side while automated loading and unloading runs simultaneously on the other.
