The medical and lab automation industry is expected to reach $11.60 billion by 2030. Design startups in this industry face intense pressure to bring prototypes to life quickly
Yet sourcing high-quality parts quickly remains a challenge in today’s supply chain. At the same time, engineering and procurement teams must also account for safety, compliance, and performance in highly sensitive environments.
This article breaks down four considerations to consider when sourcing parts for medical lab and automation equipment.
1. Stainless Steel Parts
Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, can handle disinfectants without degrading, and offers precision performance. 304 and 316L are the most common stainless steel types for lab automation machine design.
304 stainless steel contains a minimum of 18% chromium and 8% nickel, which gives its alternate name 18/8 stainless steel. 304 stainless steel contains chromium-nickel content and low carbon. This stainless steel type is oxidation and corrosion-resistant, and its durability provides ease for fabrication and prevention of product contamination.
316L stainless steel offers resistance to hard cleaning agents, sterilization chemicals, saline, and acids. Its low-carbon content prevents corrosion, it’s more biocompatible, and holds up in humid and corrosive environments.
An additional option includes black chrome plating on stainless steel. For example, using black chrome plating on a stainless steel linear guide that would be used in medical instruments offers chemical and wear protection, glare reduction, smoother operation, and extended service life in harsh, caustic environments.
2. Small Components
For modular or desktop lab machines, small parts work to achieve highly compact and space-efficient designs. Additionally, robotic arms, microplate movers, and liquid dispensers rely on custom-fit and small components. These parts are essential for handling tubes, plates, or micro-wells that differ in size, shape, or surface.
In these cases, standards parts might not always be the best route, and you’ll need to customize a part to meet small-size requirements. But fully custom to get the right size can be costly. That’s why MISUMI offers configurable options for off-the-shelf parts.
That means if you need to customize just the size of a standard component, you can do that easily on MISUMI’s website using the configurator. Simply choose a standard part and use the configurator on the product’s page to get the specifications required. It’s a fast and cost-effective option to get the part you need fast.
3. Cleanroom and Food-Grade Parts
Cleaning parts prior to installing them in a machine is a requirement to ensure high-quality, long-term performance.
The traditional method of getting parts cleaned requires sourcing the parts you need and waiting for them to be delivered before handing them off to a parts cleaning supplier.
Finding parts that are pre-cleaned and ready for delivery is a great alternative to the traditional cleaning method, as it can cut down timelines in getting your parts ready for installation.
MISUMI offers three cleanroom-ready options for hundreds of MISUMI products, including:
Food-grade parts are designed to resist microbial growth, surface contamination, and residue buildup. Using food-grade parts ensures equipment passes inspections and regulatory clearance (e.g. FDA, CE, ISO 13485).
What exactly makes parts food-grade compliant? There are certain types of materials, surface finishes, and designs that are food-grade compliant, such as certain stainless steels, polymers/plastics, and elastomers and gaskets.
It’s important to not overlook documentation when sourcing parts and suppliers must provide material certifications if food-grade is a critical requirement.
4. Quiet Operation
Excessive noise from motors or actuators can lead to operator fatigue, distraction, and long-term hearing concerns. Parts that operate quietly ensure a silent operation, which is essential in hospitals or clinics to reduce stress and maintain a proper environment.
Here’s an example of choosing parts that ensure a quiet operation for a robotic pipetting arm:
- Choose a quiet-profile ball screw with polymer nut
- For a motor, consider a BLDC servo with microstepping drive for smooth acceleration
- Consider a polyurethane timing belt instead of chain
- Use damped aluminum frame with elastomer isolation pad
When sourcing parts, partner with a supplier that has experience in the lab automation industry. They’ll be able to guide you through what to consider and how to source the right parts you need.
Partner with MISUMI, from Prototype to Production
Looking for a parts manufacturer that you can rely on? MISUMI partners with lab automation engineering teams in the startup industry to help take the complexity out of sourcing mechanical and electrical parts for your designs.
Schedule a lunch and learn with our team by filling out the form here.
