MMBT Quiet Fine Wire Medical Braider FAQ

Our braiders are quiet and cost-effective. These state-of-the-art machines employ an intuitive design, effortless operation, high output and are built to last using heavy-duty aluminum, stainless and alloy steels. We have 16 and 32-carrier braiders in stock, so there is no lead time.

Yes. We sell both horizontal and vertical braiders, in carrier configurations of 16,24,32,48,64,72,96,144 and 288.

Our braiders are 80.1dB at 100% machine speed, (300 rpm), and 74dB at 50% machine speed (150 rpm).

Wire/Fiber sizes from .0001 to .001 inch, (or 30 to 49 AWG gauge). Types include flat, twisted, and round. The bobbin release tension of a carrier can range from 10 grams to 538 grams, so braiding wire sizes outside of the above ‘general’ range are also possible. Our machines braid a variety of materials. Common examples are,
WIRES: Stainless Steel, Copper, Niti, Titanium, Gold, Platinum, and Cobolt-Chromium.
FIBERS: Nylon, Polyester, Dyneema, Kevlar, Vectran, Spectra, PET, PEN, PP, PEEK and LCP

Final product size up to 0.5" or 12.5 mm maximum. (Machine can also braid with no core).

Horn gears rotate at 300 rpm, up to 600 picks per minute.

PPI range is software adjustable, from 0 to 999. Braiders are shipped with the range set at 0-225 PPI, which is easily changeable via the HMI.

Our carriers come with a removable metal bushing that allows for common competitor bobbins to be used. Fort Wayne Endura bobbins will also fit.

Yes, a bobbin winder is included for your convenience. The winder can run while braider is operating in production mode. Winder assembly has 2 motors. The speed of winder motor and speed of traverse pulley arm motor are both adjustable, by percentage, from 0-100%. This allows for fine-tuning the wraps on the bobbins.

Yes. We include on all braiders, Triaxial Tubes with ceramic eyelets, in the center of each horn gear, pre-installed. A complete Triaxial kit with carriers, brackets, control box, optical wire-break sensors and installation instructions is available for purchase. Kits can be customized from 1, to up to half the braider’s number of regular carriers.

We create both Horizontal and Vertical, Single Head, Maypole type Fine Wire Circular systems.

Our braiders are carefully designed to be as quiet as possible. Carriers are supported by an additional nylon shoulder for smoother, quieter travel. We also use optical non-contact wire break sensors which are silent.

Dimensions are 2500x1300x1600mm. Weight is 500Kg. (98.5” x 51” x 63”. - 1102 lbs.). Main drive system is one, 0.40KW 3-phase Servo Motor. Power Requirements: 208V/3Ø, 60HZ, 6FLA.

Yes, each braider has a light tower with 2 different colors. Red for error condition, red flashing for clearable error, solid green for normal operation, flashing green indicates “Safe to start system.”

The control system is an extremely intuitive, HMI (human machine interface), with an easy-to-follow menuing system. All aspects of production are accessible using a stylus on a touch screen. Product settings are saved as recipes. Multiple recipes can be saved for ease of production. The system uses a Delta PLC. Push button machine controls include start, stop, jog forward, jog reverse, take-up forward, take-up reverse, and emergency stop operations for the machine. Horizontal braiders also have a winder Start, and winder Stop button for the included bobbin winder.

Both solid mandrels and flexible core materials can be used. Braider is capable of both discrete mandrel and ‘reel-to-reel’ operations for a continuous braid.

We also sell microscopes and cameras, and as an accessory, we can install a digital camera scope with measuring capabilities to monitor braid angle, pick count, etc. On the fly.

Yes, up to 10 segments can be programmed in one recipe, allowing for a different PPI for each of the 10 segments.

Yes, we can upgrade the braider’s software via laptop and ethernet cable. Braiders can be upgraded remotely as well.

Yes, adjustment range is 10 – 538 grams. Tension is adjusted by 2 different carrier springs, and number of compensation rollers used.
1) Wires: (round, flat and twisted), Stainless Steel, Copper, Niti, Titanium, Platinum, Cobalt-Chromium.
2) Fibers: Nylon, Polyester, Dyneema, Kevlar, Vectran, Spectra, PET, PEN, PP, PEEK.

We have a 16-carrier Braider available at our location in Maple Grove, MN that customers can utilize for testing purposes. We can collaborate with you on finding exactly what you need.

The following are included with the braider:

• 16 Tension springs each in sizes .30mm, .45mm, .55mm, .70mm, .80mm and .90mm
• 16 Ratchet springs each in sizes .45mm, .60mm, .70mm and .80mm.
• 4 spare blank nylon die guides.
• 4 blank Braiding disk nylon inserts
• 16 Complete carrier assemblies preinstalled.
• Operator Manual, Supplemental Manual, Spare parts manual, and Electrical Schematics.
• Triaxial tubes with ceramic eyelets come standard on all braiders.
• Pre-wired with a 10 foot, SOOW 10 gauge, 4-wire power cable with L14-20P 20 Amp plug.

Our braiders come standard with a braid ‘disk’, that is rounded and polished, 3.5” in diameter, 1.5” thick and accepts 1.5” center nylon inserts, which can be drilled to size for your core material. 4 spare inserts are supplied with each braider. We can supply customized braid cones based on your needs as well.

Yes, we sell outside of the US and our machines are CE certified in the EU, and are compliant with NFPA-79-2021, Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery with reference to NFPA-70-2023, National Electrical Code in the USA.

Carrier pulleys are nylon and have no parting line. Other pulleys on the braider either have a solid ceramic center or are constructed of solid nylon.

Top eyelet is a slotted carbide eyelet,lower eyelet is ceramic.

Yes, both the table and puller can be jogged in either direction, together and/or separately.

Caterpillar tension is adjusted via 2 knobs, one for each track, to move tracks up or down on screw shafts. No air compressor is required.

Examples of parts we keep in inventory are carriers, carrier feet, bobbins, tension springs, ratchet springs, compensation rollers, carrier eyelets, roller pins and clips, belts, pulleys, motors, servo drives, HMI screens, push buttons, contact switches, horn plates, and main gears.

208V, 3 Phase, 60HZ, 6FLA.

Electrical schematics are included. If requested, we can supply a photo of the incoming wire connection to the braider control panel. (Note that Braiders are delivered with a 10-foot long, 10-gauge SOOW, 4-wire power cord with a L14-20P 20 Amp plug, pre-installed for your convenience).

No. No need for an air compressor.

We keep a 16-carrier braider set-up and operational for testing and inspection.

Training can be provided either at our Maple Grove, MN site or at your location.

Only MMBT can modify the braider’s software. We occasionally have updates to the software to add features or refinements and your braider can be easily updated.

Delta PLC.

Nitrile Butadiene Rubber. It is synthetic rubber.

All carriers are of a standard size on all braiders and therefore interchangeable. Main track plates, however, are of different sizes and not interchangeable.