Device companies focus on DFM is shortsighted. DF(x) allows companies to account for designing for manufacturability, as well as design for inspection, assembly, low cost, manufacturing efficiency, business needs, manufacturing throughput, packaging/transportation, etc.

Additive manufacturing (AM) requires that orthopedic device manufacturers choose from a host of technologies to post process and finish their parts to achieve the ideal surface.

The mill is a machine shop workhorse used for a wide array of machining tasks from simple facing to complex surface profiling. Almost every orthopedic implant and instrument is at least partially fabricated on a mill. Understanding its use is valuable to all design engineers.