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Galbiati Group has been collaborating for several years with an internationally recognized leading company, providing third-party mechanical machining of large-sized components for the medical sector, particularly in the field of radiology and proton therapy.
Proton therapy is an important technological advance in cancer treatment. It is a type of radiotherapy that uses a proton beam to irradiate the patient’s diseased tissue. The main advantage is the ability to more accurately localize the proton radiation dosage through a cyclotron, a particle accelerator, i.e. a machine whose purpose is to accelerate proton beams with high kinetic energy. The trajectory traversed by the particles is as a spiral from the center. Once reached the outer edge of the machine, the beam comes out at high speed, close to the speed of light.
Our end customer stands out for having created a scanning system in which the proton energy is delivered in a “pencil beam” offering a more precise control in the irradiation of the proton beam to the targeted tumour. This method is able to provide a high-intensity proton therapy, which is recognized for the efficacy of the dose delivered and is considered an advance compared to other therapy administration methods.
Galbiati Group has developed an excellent business partnership with the end customer, offering a high level of experience in the precision machining of these cyclotrons.
In the machining of a cyclotron, in fact, the precision and quality required are very high, the tolerances required are very strict (micron). The difficulty in machining the shaped faces of the magnetic poles of the cyclotron (the magnetic lens system necessary to avoid dispersing the particles and for producing a well-focused beam), the difficulty in processing the ARMCO material, i.e. the 99% iron, the purest which can be produced in the industry; all of this was a challenge for us that we managed to win once again.
Example of a mechanical machining cycle performed on a cyclotron:
- mechanical processing of the full iron block;
- boring;
- milling;
- drilling;
- dimensional check in our three-dimensional measuring machine ZEISS MMZ-G 30 60 25, which, placed in an air-conditioned chamber, is able to perform dimensional checks for applications requiring millesimal tolerances.
Galbiati Group, therefore, has once again distinguished itself for its flexibility towards the customer, to understand its needs and meet them fully, for its ability to get involved in a particular sector like the medical one, for the timely deliveries and for the supply of high quality parts, thus becoming an ideal partner for this type of high quality and precision machining.
A 3D example of a cyclotron is shown below.
