Medical Extrusion System Designed to Reduce Installation Costs

Automated Manufacturing Systems (AMS) exhibited its 1-in. medical extrusion line on an all-in-one frame at the MD&M West, held in February in Anahaim, CA. The line is designed to offer simple operator adjustment of components and facilitate the set up of documentation for process repeatability.

Based out of West Palm Beach, FL, AMS displayed a running 1-in. medical extrusion system at the event, which featured the company's patent-pending Air Vac system. Designed for tacky and thin-walled extrusions that make a 0.0015-in. wall on a 0.150-in. diameter Pebax 28-32 durometer tube possible, the 1-in. extrusion system features a variety of options for medical extrusion. The entire extrusion line is self-contained with one electrical drop and one air drop to simplify installation and electrical hook ups, all on a common anodized aluminum frame. The line included a stainless-steel medical material drier and SMC chiller.

The patent pending Air Vac featured a solid 1-in. thick wall stainless-steel vacuum chamber designed to gives the extrusion engineer control and repeatability over water flows. Within the chamber were specially designed geometries to assist with water flow keeping pressures and temperatures around thin walled parts as described above consistent and controllable. The system has flow switches, digital flow meters, and "smart" water pumps that maintain constant pressure, and specialty tooling to guide the water.

Founded in 1993 AMS is a small company with experience and capabilities in various aspects of the extrusion industry.