Tip of the Month
Cost Saving Tabletop Blister Forming Station
Make your own Tabletop Blister Forming Station from inexpensive parts from the hardware store - see article for details.
Robert Brock RTPO |
Next Month's Tip
Low Cost Drape Molding Station |
Guard Industries, Inc.
3333 Washington Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: 800-535-3508
Fax: 314-534-0035
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Greetings from everyone at Guard Industries! We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter.
We are continuing the article from the Amputee Coalition of America about protecting your skin with part 3 of 4 parts. |
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Cast Cutters - Compare the Facts
Guard Industries provides the American Orthopaedic Cast Cutter, the cutter needed by the O&P industries. Features include:
- Durability
- Power and Endurance
- Ease of Operation
- Speed
- Quiet
- LIghtweight
- Balance
- Internal Lubricant
- One Year Limited Warranty.
Our American Orthopaedic competes & compares like no other cast saw offered in the United States today. Lets do a comparison to a leading saw used every day by technicians & practitioners alike.
Feature American Orthopaedic vs Competitor
Drive Arbor Hexagonal (6-way) vs Pin Drive (4-way)
American Orthopaedic cutter allows 6 blade rotations compared to the competitor's 4. This results in 50% greater blade utilization. If a clinician is using a $10.00 blade & changing blades 50 times per year, the annual savings is $250.00.
On/Off Switch Slide Switch vs Toggle Switch
All cast saws have the mass at the back of the saw where the switch is traditionally located. When the saw is dropped, this area hits the floor first. The competitor's saws have a protruding switch which easily breaks off. The American Orthopaedic saw uses a recessed slide switch that virtually eliminates breakage.
Motor Power 18,414 RPM vs 16,751 RPM
The American Orthopaedic saw generates 10% more power than our competitors. The additional power allows for easier cutting & less stalling of the motor. This is especially valuable when cutting through heavy materials like plastics & composites. Observed operating temperature of the competitor's saw is 10-12 degrees higher than the American Orthopaedic cutter.
Repair Incidence Less Expensive vs More Expensive
The American Orthopaedic saw has 40% fewer parts therefore requires fewer repairs than the competitors. This results in more expensive repairs with the competitor's saw.
American Orthopaedic Three Tier Repair Program
Level I. Inspection/Repair of switch, power cord, brush replacement and electrical test.
Level II. Level I plus inspection/replacement of drive shaft, bushings, top cam, bearings, link and electrical safety test.
Level III. Level II plus repair/replacement of motor and bearings plus noise test standards.
With American Orthopaedic's three tiered repair program, most repairs on the American Orthopaedic saw are covered under Level II while most of the competitor's saws would be covered under Level III. The competitor's armatures wear out 3-5 times faster than the American Orthopaedic saw.
Guard is able to provide you with the cost effective repair service mentioned above. Repairs are usually done within 48 hours or less. Please contact us for information on purchasing the cast cutter or for repair service information. |
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Tip Of The Month (Cont) Tabletop Blister Forming Station
The vacuum pulling stations that we have are all made from parts purchased from the local hardware store, Wal-mart, and McMaster-Carr. The vacuum forming stations, four in all, are mounted on a table that is about 30" tall and 4x8 feet. The top and legs are made from doubled 3/4" plywood and varnished. Each station has the platen with a 20" section of 1" pipe connected to it and an end cap. The end cap is drilled and taped for a hose fitting that goes to a McMaster-Carr valve. The valve is mounted on a 8x10" section of plywood which makes for a great $20 foot pedal and then is attached to a bunch of brass "T" hose fittings that connect to the platen slides through a 5" long section of 1 1/4" pipe and a 1 1/4" flange that is bolted to the table top. The 1 1/4" pipe is drilled and taped on the front and side for two screws that tighten on the 1" pipe and allow the platen to have some height adjustment. The aluminum 16x16" frames for the plastic were welded at a local shop for $75 and all we had to add were the bolts and wing nuts. 
Supply List:
(1) frying pan - you choose the size
(1) 1" pipe flange
(1) 20" long section of 1" pipe
(1) 1" pipe cap
(1) barb hose fitting
(1) 1 1/4" pipe flange
(1) 5" long section of 1 1/4" pipe
(1) McMaster-Carr valve (4625K61 squeeze lever - $27.00)
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Protect Your Skin Lesson 3: Self-monitor your feet and legs, and respond quickly to any injury.
Some injuries cannot be prevented. Treating an injury early on might, however, stop a minor injury from becoming a major one. It's a good habit, therefore, to carefully examine your limbs or your residual limb at the start of the day, midday, and at the end of the day. Often, it is difficult to see all areas of your feet and legs. Using mirrors on the floor and in your hand can help. Diabetes often causes impairment of your sensory alarms of pain, itch , vision, smell, etc. Therefore, its also good to have another person look at your feet and legs and smell for bad odors from your shoes, prostheses, socks and liners.
If you have a problem, do not try to "wait it out." Hoping and praying are good things to do while you are going to the doctor and prosthetist, not instead of going to them.
Quick treatment and customized changes to your "gear" can mean the difference between being in the hospital, having surgery, not being able to walk or use your prosthesis, or saving your leg. Be a whiner or a Nervous Nellie - it pays off!
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reprinted with permission of the Amputee Coalition of America (www.amputee-coalition.org)
by Terrence P. Sheehan, MD, ACA Medical Director
Previous Issues:
July: Protect Your Skin Lesson 1: Keep your skin, prostheses, liners and socks clean, and dry them well.
August: Protect Your Skin Lesson 2: Make sure that anything that comes into contact with your skin does not injure it. Look for the conclusion of this series with Lesson 4 in our next issue: Make conscious efforts to prevent trauma (injury). |
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A Few Uses of Guard Plastics
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Thank you for your time. We hope you have found this newsletter to be helpful and informative. If you have any suggestions for future articles or any tips that you would like to share with our readers, we would love to hear from you. Our goal is to exceed your expectations with each of our products and the delivery of our service. |
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Sincerely,
James D. Barnes Steve Hall
President Account Manager |
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