It is directly influencing the dimensional accuracy. Controlling it and assuring consistency is essential.

Cutting can be as small as 30 µm without causing laser caused issues to the material (e.g. heat affects).

Within the process of Electropolishing the oxides need to be removed. Goal is to have a homogeneous surface where we can build a compact and stable layer of TiO.

Yes, it is a common defect and needs to be covered by the right polishing technology. The tube surfaces (inner/outer) and the cutting edge are different from each other in terms of their level of surface condition. These as well as inhomogeneous tube or cutting edge conditions can cause non polished areas even if the polishing process is working in general.

Yes, we do both of it with the same level of enthusiasm. However, most of the processing is from tubing.

No, this depends on the part and need to be considered individually.

We have several options. Problematic is the cold work being added to the materials matrix during the preparation process. We were running studies where different amount of cutting is causing significant influence. Therefore, we are having different ways of preparing the specimen. Dependent on the situation we are just cutting them off the geometry, we are cutting them with the laser, or we are preparing special DSC specimen (so called ringlets). For studies we certainly prefer to use DSC specimen without cold work.

We share the inspection results after the process. For example, we supply BFR/DSC charts of the transformation temperatures, expansion geometry of the shaped part (profile scans), tensile data or radial force measurements if applicable. These documents can be delivered with the components.

30 µm by 30 µm strut sizes on a stent are possible. Smaller might be possible if required.

It can be 10 to 15 µm of total strut tolerance on a complex heart valve frame. Strut to strut can be below 10 µm and for neighboring struts it should be below 7 µm. For diamond cell fatigue specimen even better values are realistic in dependence on the received tube material.

The material needs to fulfil highest standards. Small variations are normal and can be controlled within the manufacturing processes. If the variation is exceeding the “expectable/normal” range, it can make processing inefficient.

Yes, we do have a metallurgical lab. We can prepare cross sections to address this. The heat affected zone is very small and will be fully removed if polishing is applied.

Pressure itself does not have an influence but the temperatures do: If the material is kept in the austenitic state, free of any stress induced martensite, then most probably temperatures of 200°C will not have an influence. However, if you deform the material e.g. by putting a stent like part in a catheter the ambient temperature is a key player. The stress induced phases are not stable at high temperatures. If they cannot exist at the applied ambient temperature the material would undergo non-reversible plastic deformation. This is damaging the materials structure.