The Mill: What Design Engineers Need to Know about This Important Orthopedic Tool

Abstract

Young orthopedic engineers face a knowledge gap when designing a device that is to be manufactured with traditional machine tools.

Industry and academic leaders have asked BONEZONE to address these design for manufacturing issues, so we asked Deborah Munro, D.Eng., to author a series of articles that could provide basic knowledge of major machining tool operation, as well as strengths and limitations of each technology to help improve engineers’ designs.

Dr. Munro, who has worked at orthopedic device companies and taught engineering at the university level, says that overarching issues stem from a lack of hands-on education required for today’s engineering degrees. Universities arm engineers with the ability to create complex designs, but don’t teach how to machine them. Therefore, engineers often create designs that overcomplicate or even prohibit the fabrication of a part, Munro says.

Here, we’ve taken Dr. Munro’s articles on the drill press, mill [and others not attached].