How Snijlab delivers custom-made, laser-cut parts for a medical care station
How AMiS-PRO came about
Challenge
Parts are not available on the market
AMiS-PRO contains a number of custom parts that are not available as standard. Those parts must be custom made, and of consistent and high quality. At the same time, with advancing insight, Alphatron also wants to be able to make adjustments to the design without major cost implications.
Solution
Have custom parts laser cut
Laser cutting is an ideal way to create custom parts. It is fast and flexible because you can continuously make adjustments to the digital design. This leaves room for development and advancing insight. Laser cutting is also reliable: as a customer, you can always have parts made again, even in the long term. They are never "out of stock.
Thanks to their online quotation tool, as a customer you can see for yourself which design adjustments affect the price. That way you can easily make adjustments.
Sander Vieveen, Alphatron Medical
Challenge
Customer wants flexibility in design process
For any client, it is important in a design process to quickly see the impact of
decisions is, especially cost-wise.
Solution
Alphatron can create and modify online quotation itself
In the quotation tool on Snijlab.nl, people can upload non-binding drawings and choose from material, finishing and delivery options. The influence of design adjustments on the price can be checked directly.
The display must be flexible
AMiS-PRO is a medication cart with medication drawers and at the same time a care station with built-in software and a monitor. The cart is driven around the wards, where the screen must be able to be lowered easily. In addition, it is important that the nurses can work ergonomically. Adjusting the screen to individual eye level is therefore an important function of this device.
Adjusting the screen with sliding discs
Moving the screen smoothly is done by means of sliding discs. Snijlab has over 80 materials in stock and Alphatron chooses to make the sheaves from polyacetal. Parts made of polyacetal rotate smoothly, without jerking or jamming. It is also impact and wear resistant, so very durable. Because of the large stock, this material is always readily available.
Challenge
Preventing failure with the right materials
AMiS-PRO includes a medication box with different types of drawers where medication can be stored. The drawers are linked to the digital patient record, ensuring that each patient receives the right medication in the right quantities. Alphatron initially had the dividers in the drawers made from cast acrylic (standard Plexiglas) but because of the variation in thickness with that material, it happened that some dividers did not fit.
Solution
A material with lower thickness tolerance
On the advice of Snijlab, we switched to using extruded acrylic. The properties are almost the same as cast acrylic, but the thickness varies much less. As a result, the partitions now always fit.
"Snijlab thinks along, switches quickly and delivers prototypes in a short time."
Sander Vieveen, Alphatron Medical
Challenge
Parts for AMiS-PRO require serial work
Large runs of these custom-made parts are needed. When produced with regular laser cutting techniques, this is costly.
SolutionSnijlab also supplies laser-cut parts in larger quantities.
Snijlab is the only company in the industry with machines that load and unload material fully automatically. This makes it possible to laser cut series of parts in a short time and at low cost. Thus, cutting lab offers a solution for customers who want both flexibility and larger quantities. An additional advantage is that the parts from this production line have no smoke deposits.
More about AMiS-PRO
An all-in-one mobile care station that enables safe, efficient and ergonomic work for nursing staff: AMiS Solutions
