A 316L stainless steel clamp block covers the prismatic work: pockets, slots, faces and threaded holes produced to drawing rather than to a catalogue description. 316L stainless steel clamp block for medical work is produced here with CNC milling with adaptive roughing, finish passes and on-machine verification. The sections below describe what is held on the drawing, how the part is made and what arrives with the shipment.
The parts that matter most are the interfaces: bores, sealing faces, threads and mounting patterns. Those are held to ±0.02 mm, verified against the drawing, and recorded before anything is packed.
Specification
| Process | Cnc milling with adaptive roughing, finish passes and on-machine verification |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | 316L stainless steel |
| Size / capacity | M6 threaded holes on 40 mm centres |
| Tolerance | ±0.02 mm |
| Surface finish | as machined, bead blasted or anodised |
| Application | clamp block for medical |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
The operation sequence is decided before the first chip is cut: roughing to leave even stock, semi-finishing, then CNC milling with adaptive roughing, finish passes and on-machine verification as the final operation. That order is what keeps ±0.02 mm stable as the batch runs and the machine warms up.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Drive and control enclosures.
- Robot joint mounting brackets.
- Hydraulic manifold blocks.
- Instrument housings and panels.
- Camera and sensor mounts.
Quality control and documentation
Every batch is measured against the drawing with calibrated equipment, and results are recorded against the part number rather than kept on a scrap of paper.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Quotations are returned within one working day of a complete drawing package. Lead time is quoted from drawing approval, not from the date of enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
How thin can walls be milled?
Down to about 0.5 mm in aluminium with a finishing strategy that leaves support material until the last pass. Thinner sections usually need EDM or wire cutting instead.
Is flatness guaranteed across large faces?
Flatness within 0.05 mm over 300 mm is routine with a facing pass and a stress-relieved blank. Tighter values need grinding or a defined inspection method in the drawing.
What file formats do you need for a quotation?
STEP or IGES for the 3D model and a PDF drawing with tolerances, material and surface finish called out. Native files from SolidWorks, Creo or Inventor are also accepted.
To discuss clamp block requirements, send the model and the drawing with the quantities required. Feedback on manufacturability is given free of charge before any order is placed.
