RF Microneedling: Pin Counts 25, 49, 81 and Needle Depth 0.5-3mm

RF microneedling equipment is compared on needle depth, pin options, frequency, power, and cooling. The Pinxel-2 model on this site gives all five: needle depth from 0.5 to 3 millimetres in 0.1 millimetre steps, pin options of 81, 49, and 25 for microneedle fractional RF and no pin for superficial fractional RF, an output frequency of 2 megahertz, an input power of 50 watts, and a cryo temperature of minus 5 degrees. This post explains how those values combine in selection.

Pin count decides the treatment pattern. More pins cover an area with more points per pass, while fewer pins give a sparser pattern. The listing gives the same three pin options for both high speed and low gear MRF settings, which means the operator chooses the pattern rather than being locked to one cartridge. Before ordering, confirm which pin cartridges are included in the base configuration and what the consumable cost per session is.

Needle depth is the second key value. A range of 0.5 to 3 millimetres with 0.1 millimetre steps gives fine control, and the minimum needle thickness is listed at 0.01 millimetres. Depth is a clinical decision made by trained staff for a given treatment area and concern, and the table describes the machine's range rather than a protocol. The PDT output wavelength is listed at 650 nanometres, and the screen is a 10 inch colour TFT LCD.

The two modes deserve attention. MRF is microneedle fractional RF and SRF is superficial fractional RF, and the listing gives no-pin settings for SRF in both speed gears. That distinction matters because the two modes are used differently, and a buyer should ask the supplier to explain the practical difference and the training that covers each mode.

The vacuum microneedling RF family is a separate case that buyers often confuse with this model. It has no detail page and no parameter table on this site, and its category page describes only the principle of vacuum suction combined with microneedles and radio frequency. No value from the Pinxel-2 table has been applied to that family, and the guide comparing the two keeps their evidence separate.

For the documented model, see the fractional RF microneedling page, and for the comparison, see the RF microneedling versus vacuum RF guide and the RF equipment category page.

Common Mistakes When Comparing RF Microneedling Devices

The most common mistake in RF microneedling buying is choosing a pin count as if it were a quality score. The three options, 81, 49, and 25 pins, produce different treatment patterns, and the right choice depends on the area and the clinical decision, not on a ranking. A buyer should ask which cartridges are included and what each costs, rather than assuming the largest count is the best value. The second mistake is confusing the two modes: MRF uses pins and SRF uses no pin, and the two are not interchangeable settings on the same cartridge. The third mistake is the most serious, and it is the confusion between this documented model and the vacuum microneedling RF family, which has no parameter table on this site. A value from the Pinxel-2 table must never be presented as a value for the vacuum family, and a buyer who is offered vacuum equipment should ask for its own parameters in writing.

Questions to Ask the Supplier

Before payment, put five questions to the supplier in writing. First, which pin cartridges are included, are they single-use, and what do replacements cost? Second, how is needle depth set and verified, and does the 0.1 millimetre step control work as listed across the full 0.5 to 3 millimetre range? Third, how is the cryo temperature of minus 5 degrees maintained during a full session, and what maintenance does it need? Fourth, what is the hygiene and disposal protocol for cartridges, and what training covers it? Fifth, what certification documents apply to the buyer's market? For vacuum equipment, add a sixth question: what are the vacuum model's own parameters, documented separately from any other model? Written answers to those questions are the specification for this purchase.

How RF Microneedling Fits a Clinic Business

RF microneedling is a course-based service, and its business case depends on cartridge cost per session as much as on the machine price. A clinic should calculate the consumable cost for its most common treatment, the appointment length including preparation and cleaning, and the number of sessions in a typical course, before deciding which pin cartridges to stock. Training decides whether the clinic can actually offer the full range: an operator trained only on one pin count and one depth will use a fraction of the machine's capability. The supplier's training should cover both modes, all three pin counts, and the full depth range, and the clinic should confirm that coverage in writing.

Demonstrations and Delivery Checks

Before payment, ask for a demonstration that shows each pin cartridge included in the order, the no-pin SRF setting, and the full needle depth range in 0.1 millimetre steps. During the demonstration, check how cartridges are changed, how depth is set and verified, and how the cryo temperature is maintained during a session. At delivery, check the delivery note against the cartridge list, the depth control, and the hygiene consumables, and test each cartridge type before signing. A demonstration that only shows one pin count has not demonstrated the machine being bought. For vacuum equipment, apply the same discipline separately: ask for the vacuum model's own demonstration and its own parameters, and do not accept the Pinxel-2 demonstration as evidence for a different family.

What Training Should Cover

Training for RF microneedling equipment should cover more than switching the machine on. It should explain the MRF and SRF modes separately, how pin count and needle depth are chosen for different areas, and how the cryo temperature is used during a session. It should cover cartridge handling, hygiene, and disposal in full, because needle devices carry infection control duties that a laser device does not. It should cover the vacuum family separately if the clinic buys it, with its own parameters and its own routine, rather than treating the two families as one. A supplier that offers only a brief handover is not offering training, and the buyer should ask for the training agenda and whether it covers all pin counts and the full depth range before payment.