Case Study: Precision 316L Surgical Instrument Components

Case study · CHX Metal · Published 2026-10-08

How CHX Metal machines 316L surgical instrument parts to ±0.005 mm and Ra 0.2 µm with full material traceability and CPK reports on 5-axis machining centers. Operations are certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, with CMM inspection on every batch.

A medical device manufacturer needed complex surgical instrument parts in 316L stainless steel: ±0.005 mm tolerance, Ra ≤ 0.4 µm surface finish, material traceability certificates and CPK reports. The parts required multi-face machining and micro-hole features.

Customer requirement

The customer, a medical device manufacturer, required a batch of high-precision surgical instrument parts in 316L stainless steel: tolerance ±0.005 mm, surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, plus material traceability certificates and CPK reports. The parts have complex geometry with multi-face machining and small-hole features.

Our solution

We machined the parts on 5-axis machining centers, completing all faces in a single setup to eliminate re-fixturing error. Medical-grade 316L stainless steel was used with material certificates and full traceability. Surfaces were finished by vibration polishing followed by electropolishing, reaching Ra 0.2 µm. Every part is inspected on a CMM, with CPK ≥ 1.33 reports supplied.

Results

The first batch of 100 samples was delivered in 7 days and passed customer approval in full. In series production the project delivers 5,000 parts per month with a defect rate below 0.1%. The customer has since placed repeat volume orders and the partnership is ongoing.

Quality assurance

Every part is inspected on a CMM. Our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015, with ISO 14001 environmental certification. Measurement reports, PPAP documentation and first-article samples are available on request. Production capacity reaches 5,000,000 parts per month, supporting long-term contracts at fixed pricing.

Lead times & delivery

Prototypes: 3-7 working days. Series production: 7-15 days, up to 20 days including surface treatments. Worldwide shipping via DHL/FedEx with anti-corrosion packaging and dedicated trays for precision components. Full lot traceability from raw material to shipment.

Why CHX Metal

CHX Metal operates a 220-machine production facility in Baoan, Shenzhen: 100 five-axis machining centers, 50 CNC lathes and 70 Swiss-type automatic lathes. We work directly without intermediaries — from DFM review to scheduled Kanban deliveries. RFQ responses within 24 hours, including manufacturability feedback and cost optimization.

Frequently asked questions

What is your MOQ?

We accept orders from 1 part for prototypes; for series production, lots from 100 pieces are most economical, with annual fixed pricing for high volumes.

Can you quote from our drawings?

Yes — we accept STEP, IGES, DWG and PDF. Our engineers review manufacturability and respond to your RFQ within 24 hours.

Do you provide documentation for regulated industries?

Yes. Material certificates, traceability from raw-material batch to shipment, CMM inspection reports and CPK reports (CPK ≥ 1.33 on this project) are available. PPAP documentation is available on request.

Shenzhen Changhexin Precision Hardware Co., Ltd. (CHX Metal) · Shajing Street, Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China · ISO 9001:2015 (NOA198428) · ISO 14001:2015 (NOA2100184)