🫀 Vascular stents & scaffolds
60–100 µm 316L / nitinol struts; ±0.005 mm strut width. Precision vertical
Medical device etching machine
Photochemical etching for vascular stents, biopsy meshes, surgical blades, orthodontic brackets and microfluidic chips. Burr-free edges, ±0.01 mm tolerance, full ISO 13485 process documentation. GE medical-class production lines, shipped to OEMs and contract manufacturers worldwide.
Medical parts start thin and stay thin: stent struts sit at 60–100 µm, biopsy meshes at 30–150 µm, surgical blades at 200–500 µm. GE's precision vertical etching machines and horizontal pilot lines are tuned to this thickness band — and to the chemistry switches that alloys like nitinol, titanium and 316L demand.
By part type
Etching machines for medical parts
Each part has a sweet spot. Match your part to a recommended machine below.
🪡 Surgical blades & scalpels
200–500 µm 304 stainless; sharp, polished cutting edge. Precision horizontal
🦴 Biopsy meshes & bone plates
30–150 µm titanium mesh; bone plate geometry. Super thin-plate
🦷 Orthodontic brackets
17-4 PH & Ti-6Al-4V; slot precision ±0.01 mm. Precision exposure + etch
💉 Microfluidic chips & biosensors
Channel widths 10–200 µm on 0.1 mm metal foil. Precision vertical
🔬 Endoscopic & laparoscopy parts
Small flexible shafts & jaws — 304/316L high-temp alloys. Precision horizontal
Recommended configuration
GE medical etching line — typical
Pilot
Precision Horizontal Etching Machine
- Etch area650 × 2000 mm
- Tolerance±0.02 mm
- Sheet thickness0.02–1.5 mm
- EtchantFeCl₃ (316L) / HF-mix (Ti) / oxalic-acid (NiTi)
- Throughput≈150–400 plates / 8h shift
Typical pilot line for contract medical device manufacturers.
Mass production
Precision Vertical Etching Machine
- Etch size550 × 550 mm
- Min. feature≈ 0.05 mm
- Tolerance±0.01 mm positional
- Edge profileSquare, burr-free
- Throughput≈60–200 stents / 8h shift
The core machine for stent & scaffold serial production.
Compliance
Validation & documentation for ISO 13485
GE machines are installed in ISO 13485 facilities. Here's what we provide.
IQ / OQ protocols
Installation & Operational Qualification templates ready for your QA to fill.
MSDS + chemistry logbook
Every etchant tank ships with the MSDS, target concentration, and analytical method.
Process FMEA template
Built for the etching cell. Adaptable to your design-control stack.
Wetted material certs
316L / PTFE / PFA / PP wetted-part certificates, ready for biocompatibility files.
On-site validation
Optional GE engineer on-site to run your first 5 batches under your QM oversight.
Spare-parts retention
Critical spares pack for 24 months — keeps the line IQ/OQ-stable across audits.
Materials
Medical metals & their etchant recipes
316L Stainless Steel
Workhorse for scalpels, stents & brackets — FeCl₃ etchant at 45 °C. →
Titanium & Ti-6Al-4V
Bone plates & orthodontic implants — HF-based etchant, PFA-lined. →
Nitinol (Ni-Ti)
Self-expanding stents — oxalic / nitric acid blend, T ≤ 40 °C. →
Cobalt-chromium
Orthopaedic implants — HCl / H₂O₂ mix, with neutralisation stage. →
GE machine lineup
Medical etching — pick the right machine
Two vertical and one conveyorised machine sit at the heart of every medical etching line we ship.
GE-TS650-M
GE-TS650-M — Vertical Precision (Stents & Scalpels)
Vertical-spray architecture; cleanest sidewalls for fine-pitch medical parts.
| Power | 5.5 kW / 380 V / 50 Hz |
| Etching area | 650 × 650 mm |
| Thickness | 0.05–5.0 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.02 mm |
| Min. feature | approx. 0.05 mm |
| Spray | Top & bottom oscillating, 4 kW |
| Tank volume | 400 L |
| Cabinet | PP |
| Dimension | 1850 × 1650 × 1550 mm |
Built for cleanroom-adjacent install. Supplied with FAT, SAT & IQ/OQ templates.
GE-JM650-H
GE-JM650-H — Horizontal Precision (Biopsies & Meshes)
Pilot-scale horizontal line for biopsy meshes, bone plates & orthodontic backplates.
| Power | 11.5 kW / 380 V / 50 Hz |
| Etching width | 650 mm (custom to 1550) |
| Thickness | 0.05–2.0 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.02 mm |
| Tank volume | 800 L |
| Spray | Double-side oscillating |
| Dimension | 3550 × 1650 × 1550 mm |
GE-JM650-T
GE-JM650-T — Titanium Medical Module
PFA-lined HF chemistry for Ti-6Al-4V bone plates and orthodontic implants.
| Etching process | Acid-based HF + HNO₃, PFA |
| Power | 45 kW / 380 V / 50 Hz |
| Working width | 650 mm / height 850 mm |
| Workpiece thickness | 0.2–8.0 mm |
| Conveyor speed | 0.5–6 m/min |
| Safety | HF leak sensor + Ca-gluconate tank |
| Cabinet | German PP, ≤100 °C |
More like this
Related etching lines & guides
Six things to read next — same chemistry, similar tolerances, or the next step in your process.
Fuel cell etching
PEMFC BPPs — 316L / Ti flow fields at ±0.02 mm →
Aerospace etching
Ti / Inconel parts — AS9100 process documentation →
Lead frame etching
Medical-grade Cu / Kovar precision parts →
Automotive etching
EV-grade precision parts — medical / automotive crossover →
EMI shielding etching
316L enclosures, RFI shielding cans →
Titanium etching machine
Titanium implants, orthodontic parts →
Spec'ing a medical etching line?
Send us your part drawing, alloy, annual volume and target finish. We'll spec the machine, the chemistry and the validation pack.