Wire Stripping for Guidewires
Comco, an MMT company, provides MicroBlasting technology that can be used to perform delicate cleaning without damage to the underlying part. Whether you need to strip coatings, remove residues, clean hot runner nozzles, our process is effective, streamlined and safe.
GUIDEWIRES
Coatings applied to guidewires enable them to move smoothly throughout the body. However, these smooth coatings are not conducive to bonding the wire to end components. This makes it necessary to remove small sections of the coatings to provide a suitable surface for bonding.
MicroBlasting is an efficient method to safely and effectively remove coatings with a sharp delineation.
How sharp is that delineation? <0.005″
GUIDEWIRE TYPES
A wide range of guidewire size and materials can benefit from the MicroBlasting process.
Stainless steel or nitinol wire diameters typically range from 0.014″ to 0.035″ and the Ring Nozzle can accommodate wire up to 0.125″ in diameter. Guidewires of any length can be accommodated, whether they are standard (145 cm -190 cm) or exchange-length (260 cm – 400 cm).
Coatings which can effectively be removed include: PTFE, PVA, and PEG.
MICROBLASTING METHOD
Equipment: AccuFlo abrasive blaster, ProCenter Plus and Ring Nozzle
Abrasive: Sodium bicarbonate or wheat starch
Pressure: 80 psi
Orifice: 0.040″
Nozzle: Ring Nozzle with 5 x 0.030″
Configured with five Hi/Performance nozzles, the Ring Nozzle is designed to spread the abrasive flow uniformly over a circular cross-section for sharp delineation between the coated and uncoated regions.
Ring Nozzle for wire stripping inside Comco’s ProCenter Plus
WHY MICROBLASTING?
The selective cleaning process uses the abrasive qualities of MicroBlasting to carefully erode layers of unwanted material from a base substrate. The process takes advantage of the different physical properties of the two layers. By choosing a sharp soft abrasive, MicroBlasting cuts through the soft ductile coating without damaging the underlying wire. Additionally, MicroBlasting abrasives of choice (sodium bicarbonate or wheat starch) are easily cleaned and biocompatible.
TOTAL GUIDEWIRE SOLUTIONS
Comco’s MicroBlasting systems deliver cutting-edge solutions tailored for guidewire manufacturers. In 2025, MMT acquired Comco, marking a significant expansion of capabilities, allowing both companies to better serve its customers.
MMT offers an extensive array of innovative solutions for catheter manufacturing, automation, guidewires, and abrasives. These exceptional offerings are backed by MMT’s renowned and trusted brands, ensuring you receive the highest quality in every aspect of your production needs.
MMT Guidewire and Abrasive Manufacturing Solutions
COMCO APPLICATIONS LAB
Let our experts help find the right solution for your part. We know no two applications are the same. Our Technical Specialists manage sample-part testing and processing from start-to-finish. They actively collaborate with our Sales and Engineering Teams while remaining completely accessible to you throughout the process. GET IN TOUCH TODAY!
PRODUCT FEATURE: Comco JetCenter
Comco JetCenter: Built for Abrasive Environments
In an evolution of Comco’s automated MicroBlasting platform, the JetCenter has created new options for manufacturers. In addition to having greater travel, this system is designed to integrate additional types of motion and automation within the blast chamber. JetCenter is your go-to choice for large flat parts, or trays of smaller parts that need to be blasted individually.
The characteristics that make an abrasive a suitable choice for MicroBlasting make the protection of automation challenging. Through our engineering expertise, we’ve designed a system tough enough to withstand the harsh environments of production environments.
The Comco JetCenter provides various benefits to manufacturers, including:
Easy to Use
Designed for production environments, the JetCenter protects against accidental, improper loading of parts or mismatch of programs. Simply select a preset program, load the parts, and you’re ready to begin blasting at the press of a button.
Flexible Design
JetCenter configurations can be developed for a wide range of processes. Our expert engineers can design JetCenter systems to meet exacting standards in the medical, aerospace, electronics, automotive, semiconductor industries, and more.
Works with any Blaster
The JetCenter has been engineered to operate with either the AccuFlo or PowerFlo families of Comco blasters. The AccuFlo model is most commonly used for single nozzle applications. Multiple AccuFlo units or the PowerFlo are recommended for applications requiring multiple nozzles.
SPEAK WITH AN ENGINEER TODAY!
Schedule a consultation by clicking here.
Medical Manufacturing Technologies (MMT) is a vertically integrated business serving the medical device manufacturing industry and beyond. The company offers process development, applications and equipment, technical solutions, and aftermarket support. MMT brands include Cathtip, Comco, Engineering by Design, FEPeeler, GenX Medical, Glebar, Innova, Interface Catheter Solutions, MMT Automation, MPT Europe, R&D Engineering, SYNEO, Somex Automation, and Tridex Technologies.
