Norman Noble has added dedicated capacity in its Process Development Centers (PDCs) to produce prototype iterations faster for medical device OEMs. The new capability, dubbed Rapid Development Effort (RDE), is currently available for:
- Laser Processing Services—Nitinol Stents, Transcatheter Heart Valves, Neuro Clot Pullers
- 5-axis Micro Milling & Turning—Polyaxial Screws, Bone Plates

New capability provides quick turnaround times for prototypes.
Rapid Development Effort fills a critical need for medical device OEMs who, until now, had to choose between an ultra-fast 3D printed plastic prototype, or fully conforming machined part requiring longer lead times to produce. The new Rapid Development Effort prototyping service from Norman Noble bridges the gap between the two. Medical device OEMs can now complete functional or verification testing on metallic-based prototypes within a short lead time, enabling the engineer to move faster to the next design iteration.
“We’ve invested heavily in our Process Development Centers at Norman Noble to expand our capabilities and increase prototyping speed for our customers,” said Chris Noble, vice president and chief operating officer of Norman Noble. “I firmly believe the greatest value we can provide to engineers is the ability to hand them something that closely resembles their conceptual drawing in their preferred material in a truly expedited manner. We can continue to repeat this process for the engineer until they are comfortable with freezing the design in preparation for validation.”
Norman Noble Process Development Centers support customers with ultra-precision micromachining of medical devices from initial prototype, through all stages of FDA approval, to full-scale manufacturing.
The company’s process development centers are central to its customers’ ability to bring next-generation medtech devices to market quickly and cost-effectively, while meeting quality, delivery and regulatory requirements.
Norman Noble
nnoble.com