One of Peridot’s long-time clients recently presented our team with a unique challenge: sort through a 50-piece, nine-year-old surgical training model assembly, which included incomplete parts and assembly models, and poorly organized drawings from the customer’s former contract manufacturer, to improve on the design and produce it from start to finish.

Challenge accepted. Taking ownership of the complete end-to-end process, Peridot redesigned, manufactured, assembled, warehoused and distributed the new and improved training model assembly. Our success on such a complex project hinged on excellent project management and demonstrated the incredible value of being a one-stop manufacturing partner.

Here’s how we did it:

Quite a bit going on with this assembly!

Our medical technology client had recently purchased a San Francisco Bay area start-up with a cardiovascular clip that posted very promising clinical results. The minimally invasive surgery involves implanting the clip through an arterial catheter while the surgeon watches on a nearby monitor.

The training model simulates the twists and turns of the arterial pathways that must be navigated by the surgeon during the procedure. A small number of these models had been built and sent into the field with a very favorable response. And so, with the acquisition of this start-up, the program needed to scale up production to meet demand.

In the face of a pile of ill-fitting parts and imprecise measurements, Peridot began by organizing the entire assembly into a sensible bill of materials. Then we produced 3D CAD files and manufacturing drawings with the appropriate tolerances (in Solidworkds-09jju), and delivered a budget-conscious quote for production. Prior to the final order placement, Peridot offered several design simplifications and modern-day manufacturing recommendations that were eagerly implemented by our client and applied to the final design to save on both manufacturing time and bottom-line costs.

Using customer-supplied parts, purchased electronics and a majority of components manufactured on our diverse range of state-of-the-art CNC machines, Peridot assembled a complete run of 50 training models from start to finish in our ISO 13485 Class 10K clean room facility.

Processes included vertical and horizontal machining centers:

PEEK machined swivel mount Vertical / Horizontal CNC Milling: Complicated geometry? No problem!

6061 T6 aluminum annulus. The core component of the assembly. Unconventional geometry, thin sections, multiple operations.

Multiaxis turning centers:

Polycarbonate fastener. Front and backside turning/threading with cross-holes.

CNC swiss screw machines:

316L Stainless. Turned entirely on one of our state-of-the-art CNC Swiss machines

CNC press brakes, different types of laser cutters:

This subassembly was completely redesigned by us for ease of manufacturing and less overall complexity. The aluminum saddle block is a machined part, whereas the aluminum clamp on top is a lasercut and CNC pressbrake formed component.

Acrylic components cut on our CO2 laser. This particular laser can cut and etch a wide variety of thermoplastics/polymers and several other kinds of nonmetallic materials.

5052 H32 Aluminum with Black anodize. Brackets manufactured using our in-house blank-cutting and forming capabilities.

Laser welders, and CNC spring coilers.

316L stainless rod and 304 stainless spring wire. This subassembly shows even more of Peridot's many in-house processes: These components require turning, forming, laser welding, and spring coiling abilities.

CNC machined camera and light housings, mounting block, and wiring.

Crimped connectors, soldered connections, multi-pin locking connectors - we've done it all!

We also have extensive experience with different types of applications for heat-shrink tubing beyond simply insulating wiring harnesses.

Final inspection, testing, and finally, packing into custom modified waterproof containers, and then they're off!

The assembly operation included a lot of steps—reworking old-stock customer supplied parts that did not fit, extensive wiring, soldering, and insulating between optical devices, switches, lighting, inputs and outputs. After bonding and fastening the components, we performed cleaning/inspection and functional testing. Finally, we arranged the complicated mechanical parts for a foldable packing arrangement, and packed the entire assembly into specially modified cases…Phew!

Along with the (re)engineering, manufacturing and assembly, Peridot is providing warehousing, distribution, refurbishment and logistics support. We’ve also worked with the client to provide a complete order-fulfillment solution for the assemblies.

With close to 16 years of precision manufacturing, strategic and design consultation, and assembly experience, Peridot was well positioned for this challenge. Our assembly expertise allows us to take on complicated, multi-component assemblies and deliver them on-budget with the quality, consistency and high level of customer service that are the hallmarks of the Peridot team.

We love any challenge that comes with the opportunity to deliver superior results as a one-stop-shop. And our client is thrilled with the run of their first 50 completed assemblies! Now, they are seeking to further improve the product and ramp-up production. Sounds good to us.

Got a crazy idea? What seems to be an insurmountable engineering obstacle? Or maybe you’re just ready to simplify your supply chain? Give us a call or drop us a note.  Team members are standing by.