Challenges In Medical Equipment Manufacturing Amidst The Pandemic - Miracle Electronics

Medical equipment electronics always require stringent measures to be taken while manufacturing them, as we always want to make sure that there is no chance of failure during any kind of critical procedures. The components used in such electronics also should be able to be easily traced back to their origin in case any problems are discovered, so as to find where the fault lies, and ensure that care is taken on manufacturing those particular components to avoid any issues in future components.

Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic that has struck so hard on us, there is even more pressure to hasten medical equipment development. There is also the need to satisfy the testing, documentation, and regulatory requirements of manufacturing medical electronics. Amidst all of this, let us take a look at some of the challenges that PCB manufacturers are facing to get the products to the market sooner. We want to see this because a PCB is one very crucial component of almost every electronic device today.

Why is precision important in medical equipment development?

Manufacturing of medical equipment is a tightly controlled process to ensure that the products built are of the highest quality. The best quality can be achieved by keeping a few goals in mind, some of which include –

• The product may have to work in the most critical applications, which is why it must have a more robust design than any other consumer product.
• The product should be designed as per applicable industry standards like ISO, by a manufacturer that holds applicable licenses to build medical devices.
• The product has to be safe to operate in even the most unexpected conditions, without any worry of shock or failure in any environment.

The challenges faced by the manufacturing industry due to the pandemic

Adding to all of the standard requirements above, medical equipment have an all new sense of urgency today with the threat of the worldwide spread COVID-19 pandemic. Certain medical equipment that are required for testing and treating the virus are facing even more challenges.

• The pandemic had brought a shut down on majority of manufacturing facilities since the past two months, slowly reopening across certain states since the past few days. All this hassle, and the way manufacturers are yet coping up on their lost time, has affected lead times for medical equipment and their components.
• Another issue was that of shipment. With all flights and trains cancelled, there was huge damage done to the lead time of getting timely shipments of devices and components.

What solutions can be helpful?

With so much of crisis around, and so many stringent measures required, what can be the solution? When you want quick response to your medical equipment requirements, there is no one that can help better than local PCB manufacturers amidst the lockdowns and restrictions. Here’s how.

• To cover up for all the loss made, many manufacturers have implemented dedicated shifts to make sure that the work gets done quicker, while ensuring safety of their staff.
• Every manufacturer has their own network of suppliers and distributors to satisfy their immediate requirements. Identifying such a local manufacturer can have them respond quickly to your urgent medical equipment assembly requests.
• Local manufacturers may help with not only PCB assemblies, but also box builds and cable assemblies so that you have to go nowhere else in these times of challenges. This can help respond quickly to requests of specialized fixtures for unique assemblies.

So, get in touch with a local manufacturer for your electronic device requirements, and we’re sure you’ll find a quick response. If you are in Bangalore, you can get in touch with Miracle Electronics  to take advantage of the best-in-class PCB assembly services from India  that can help you get your medical devices built as quickly as possible amidst these difficult times, without compromising on the quality of components. The engineering staff, the manufacturing teams, and the supply chain network here work together to achieve optimal manufacturing results to built products that are ready to be used in response to the current crises.

Designing Flexible Printed Circuit Boards - Miracle Electronics

Flexible printed circuit boards  are PCBs that are flexible, and are made of insulating polymer film that provides an electronic interconnection. While there are many ways to achieve a good circuit design, even some smallest mistakes can cause a design failure. It is thus better to be aware of such mistakes, and learn from them so that any potential errors can be avoided.

The bend

The bending capabilities of the board will be decided upon by two factors – the number of times the board will be turning, and the bendability of the council. For proper functioning of a flexible PCB, it is important that the bending area is set right in the initial stages itself. Thus, understanding the required bendability early on in the design is important to help manufacture the right parts that can fit well into the board. The minimum and maximum bendable limits should be known in regards to the bend radius and the bending tolerance.

Conductor arrangement

Because flexible circuit boards can twist and bend, any incorrect conductor arrangements can lead to hazardous consequences. You need to thus be very cautious while designing conductor arrangement. Also, you must make sure that the conductors pass through curved areas, in order to minimize the stress on them during flexing.

Stacking of conductors

Stacking conductors onto a board can result in a thicker circuit that may lead to an “I beam” effect, which is observed when the line pairs are staggered, to minimize the impact from electromagnetic reduction. You must thus avoid stacking conductors when designing a flexible PCB.

Slots and gaps

You need to create the right bridging sections to place the slots. Every gap and curved area in a flexible PCB is critical. Preparing for a manageable arrangement with the right bridging sections can avoid any bottlenecks in the design, by helping to achieve better edges and making it easy to fit the deserved curved PCB.

Quality of cover material

The quality of material you choose for the cover of the circuit boards will also determine, on a huge scale, the overall performance and life of the board. You must thus choose only the most suitable material, never compromising on the quality.

Layer placements for multi-layer boards

When using multi-layer flexible circuit boards, you must take care of the layer placement. As these boards are used in high circuit density applications, one mistake can hamper the entire functionality of the board. You thus need to make accurate placements by avoiding circuit parts on the solder side of the circuit board.

Through-hole mounting method

When using the through-hole mounting method, you must make sure that the holes are well within a safe distance from areas that bend or flex, to avoid any possible risks. Also, pay attention to the surface finish on both sides of the board, as they need to be of the same quality, for the best performance. Another good suggestion is that you must avoid using holes near the bend areas.

With these 7 design elements kept in mind, you can design a quality PCB having the best performance. However, there are many other minute details that need to be worked on. This is why it is recommended that you have your PCBs designed and manufactured by professionals who have enough experience to know what they are doing, with every minute detail of the board taken care of in regards to the application they need to be installed in. Miracle Electronics  is one such PCB assembly manufacturer in India  you can rely upon to have the most perfect PCB designed, with attention paid to every detail like the circuit traces, hole sizes, landing patterns, and more.

Factors To Consider While Manufacturing A Switch Gear - Miracle Electronics

Electric power has become a basic necessity for each one of us today; and for electric power circuits to operate well, it is important that they are operated by the right switch gear controls, which can switch and protect individual components of the equipment. Composed of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, and circuit breakers to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment, switch gears are used to de-energize equipment so hat work can be performed with zero faults down the line.

These equipment are thus directly linked to the reliability of the electric supply; and must be thus manufactured very cautiously. So, when you are looking to manufacture such important components for your application, it is crucial that you consider several factors so as to develop and implement these components properly.

The size of the switch gear

The first and foremost consideration is the size of your switch gear. What size of switch gear will be apt for your application? Especially, when maintenance is concerned, you need to have an appropriate switch gear, if you need to move it in and out of the enclosure at the base for repairs and upkeep.

The environmental factors it will encounter

Where are you planning to install your switch gear? What is the application? Where will your product be used or installed? What kind of environmental factors will the switch gear encounter? For example, if the environmental conditions are of extreme temperatures or humidity, you need to design your switch gear such that they can effectively perform under those circumstances.

The operation requirements

You also need to consider the general control action of the switch gear. Are there any special requirements you need your switch gear to perform? Whatever your requirements, you need to present the information to the manufacturer right at the beginning of the development phase. Depending upon all that you require from your switch gear, the design plans will be worked out; and based on the finalized plan, the manufacturing will be carried out. Hence, every tiny information should be communicated and clarified before moving into the manufacturing phase to ensure that every specification of the switch gear will complement your equipment operation requirements.

Typically, switch gear are located on both high and low voltage sides of large power transformers. The switch gear on the low voltage side of transformers may be located in a building, with medium voltage circuit breakers for distribution circuits, along with control, protection, and metering equipment. For industrial applications, transformers and switch gear are combined into one housing, known as a unitized substation. So, for any queries on switch gear and transformers, and their components, or to place an order, you can always get in touch with Miracle Electronics, the best transformer manufacturer in India , where you can communicate all your information with skilled technicians, and have only the best electronic components manufactured for you. You can have almost every kind of electronics manufacturing services offered here, right from product and system designing to manufacturing the best quality products.

Receiving A Transformer And Installing It Correctly - Miracle Electronics

A transformer’s performance and success depends highly upon how it is designed and how it is installed. The design should be prepared well in advance keeping every aspect in mind by experts; the best quality materials should be used; and every care should be taken to install the transformer properly. Every transformer comes with a manufacturer’s guide that thoroughly describes the installation and testing procedure, and it is crucial to follow these guidelines to ensure safety to both the equipment and the personnel.

Acceptance testing

Before the transformer is shipped to you, it is important that you contact the transformer manufacturer in India to know about the acceptance tests that need to be followed. Every test comes with a specific objective that describes the transformer’s applicability for various uses.

Packaging inspection

Once you have received your transformer, the very first step is to check the packaging first, before even taking it out of the truck or any other vehicle that it is delivered to you in. If the packaging itself is damaged, you must return it immediately, or speak to the manufacturer as to what should be done about it.

Unloading and handling the transformer

Every transformer has a different weight, size, and mechanical configuration; and these aspects decide upon how the transformer should be handled – how it should be removed from the vehicle, how it should be lifted, and how it should be moved. Make sure your unloading people are well aware of all these things, and are capable of handling the transformer with care.

Deciding upon the location of installation

Before you plan on opening up your package and installing your transformer, it is essential that you choose a proper location that is apt for the installation, one that fulfills all the safety codes without affecting the normal movement of the equipment, material, or personnel. The location you choose must keep the transformer prevented as much as possible from harsh environmental factors like rain, wind, and heat; and also exposure to any kind of damage from trucks, cranes, or moving equipment.

Inspecting the transformer

Now that you have unloaded your parcel, and have also decided upon the location where your transformer should be installed, you are all set to go. But, hold on! Before you blindly install the transformer, it is absolutely crucial that you inspect your transformer thoroughly. Any flaws, defects, or errors in the transformer can be repaired or replaced there and then by speaking to the manufacturer. Once you install the transformer, this option may have lesser chances. However, if you have partnered with Miracle Electronics, there would be zero worries about any damages or errors, as they are the most reputed and experienced transformer manufacturer in India, who has been successfully manufacturing and delivering a variety of transformers to clients across the globe.

Installing the transformer

So, everything’s right, and you’re all set to install the transformer. It is absolutely important to carefully abide by the guidelines mentioned on the nameplate or on the connection diagram. Other than this, be very careful while considering the grounding of your transformer, as it is extremely important to eliminate the static charges that may accumulate. You must also safeguard the transformer windings so that it does not accidently get in touch with the core or enclosure. Also, after installing the transformer, do a final inspection to check for every assembling and connection.