Skiving Machine
Project Overview
A drug research company located in California develops trans-dermal drug delivery solutions for various drugs, such as patches where the dosage is delivered through skin contact. In this research porcine skin is used as it is most similar to human skin and readily available. The experiments require the skin to be of uniform thickness.
The Challenge
The existing technology is to use a hand held instrument that has a vibrating razor blade to attempt to skive the skin into a thinner section. This method does not produce uniform thickness. Eggenberger Automation was contracted to design and build a special machine to properly skive porcine skin into uniform thickness at close tolerance.
Our Solution
We manufactured all components for this machine except for the sheet metal frame and the finish grinding of the blade. The machine was finished with a sheet metal frame that houses the electrical controls, which was kept very simple by using only relays, a keyed power switch, and a button to start the cycle. The client traveled from California to witness final testing.
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Product Design
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Manufacturing
Day Turnaround
Amazing Result
Pneumatically Driven Machine with Multi-use Cylinders
Stage Cycling
Air cylinders are used to cycle the stage for the cutting stroke where the skin sample is affixed to.
Blade Function
Cylinders raise and lower the blade into cutting and clearance positions.
Tension Force
These cylinders also provide a tension force to a roller that keeps the skin sample taunt during cutting.
Final Touches
The heavy rigid blade is made of 440C heat-treated stainless steel, hollow ground to a razor edge. The mechanism allows for blade angular adjustment while keeping the cutting edge on center.
Product Assembly
Assembly of this machine required precision fitting of the critical components to achieve proper alignment, similar to a machine tool.