304 NX Stainless Steel Wire 11 Micron Braid worlds first

World’s First 11-Micron Stainless Steel Braid — What It Means for Medical, Aerospace, and Electronics

Breaking New Ground in Micro Braiding: Our 11-Micron Stainless Steel First

At MMBT by Metro CAD, we’ve always believed that innovation happens at the edges — where engineering meets imagination, and where the limits of materials get pushed just a little further. On June 20, 2025, we crossed one of those edges.

We want to acknowledge the latest achievement of Scott Metcalf, MMBT's senior braider technician, has successfully braided an 11-micron diameter, BenderWire 304 NX stainless steel wire, in a ‘1 over 1 under 1’ braid pattern — thinner than 1/7th of a human hair, yet strong enough to boast a tensile strength of 3,603 MPa per wire.

For perspective:

  • A human hair averages about 70 microns in diameter.
  • At 11 microns, this braid is so fine that it’s barely visible to the naked eye.
  • Despite its size, it’s remarkably strong, corrosion-resistant, and flexible.

How We Did It

mmbt 16 carrier horizontal braider with microscope camera added

The milestone was achieved using our MMBT16CHFWB 16-carrier Horizontal Braiding Machine — with no modifications. This is a testament to both the precision of our equipment and the expertise of our team. BenderWire 304 NX itself was manufactured by Heinrich Stamm GmbH in Germany, with support from Sebastian Ablas and Carina Stoppel.

Leading the effort was Scott Metcalf, our Senior Braider Technician. Scott put it best:

“When you’re working at this scale, the margin for error is smaller than a speck of dust. Achieving a consistent 11-micron braid without breakage proves we can deliver ultra-strong, ultra-fine structures for real-world use.”

Why It Matters

This isn’t just a technical achievement — it’s a door to new possibilities.
Micro-scale braiding at this size has historically been limited by material constraints and the risk of breakage. Our process overcomes both, allowing for lighter, stronger, and more flexible braided structures than ever before.

Where This Technology Could Go

  • Medical Devices – Neurovascular coils, microcatheters, guidewires
  • Aerospace & Defense – Micro EMI shielding, high-precision sensor cables
  • Electronics & Semiconductors – Ultra-fine bonding wire alternatives, micro cable assemblies
  • Robotics & Wearables – Micro actuation tendons, precision flex cables
  • Specialty Uses – Ultra-light fishing leaders, high-performance sporting goods

We can imagine a future where a life-saving neurovascular coil is finer than a hair, or a micro-EMI shield protects the sensors guiding the next generation of spacecraft.

See It in Person at MD&M Midwest 2025

If you’re attending the MD&M Midwest Show, you can see our braiders in action and talk with our team about how we can collaborate on your next project.
📍 Visit us at Booth #3801
🎟 Get your free expo pass here: Click to Register

Looking Ahead

We’re making this capability available to partners in medical device development, aerospace engineering, electronics manufacturing, and beyond. Through prototype sample reels, collaborative R&D, and contract manufacturing, we aim to bring these possibilities from the lab into the real world.

If you’d like to explore what 11-micron stainless steel braiding could do for your next product, get in touch with us here.

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