Additive Dental Model with Integrated Fixing Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental models require additional steps and materials, such as sawing and magnets, for fixation and modification, which increase manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An additively produced dental working model with a magnet-free base plate and dental model, featuring parallel fixing elements and a splint for secure fixation, allowing for easy assembly and modification without additional parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dental models are produced and fixed using conventional methods, then secure fixation is achieved, but additional steps (sawing, magnets) and materials are required, increasing manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate and dental model are merged into a single additively produced component, eliminating the need for separate fixation elements like magnets or mechanical fasteners. The fixing elements are integrated directly into the printed structure, reducing the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental model is segmented into modular components (base plate, dental model, splint) that can be independently produced and then assembled. This segmentation allows for easy modification and exchange of individual parts without affecting the entire structure, reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional dental models require sawing to remove stumps or individual teeth, then modification is possible, but additional work steps and tools are required, increasing manufacturing time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The dental model uses segmented, additively produced components that can be easily separated and reconfigured. Stumps or individual teeth can be removed by simply detaching the relevant module rather than sawing through the entire model, significantly reducing modification time and eliminating the need for specialized tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The model incorporates dynamic, reconfigurable elements such as splints and fixing elements that can be easily inserted, removed, or adjusted. This allows for rapid modification of the model to test different dental scenarios without permanent alterations or complex machining operations.
3Reliability
If magnets or additional parts are used for fixation, then positionally secure fixation is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase due to additional materials and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
Fixation elements are merged into the base plate and dental model structure through additive manufacturing. The fixing elements are printed as integral parts of the components themselves, eliminating the need for separate magnets, screws, or other fasteners, thereby reducing material costs and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The additively produced structure incorporates self-fixing features such as interlocking geometries and integrated fixing elements that automatically secure the base plate to the dental model during assembly. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional fixation materials and reduces assembly complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an additive method for producing a dental working model for an articulator, comprising the steps: additively producing a base plate for attachment to the articulator, and additively producing a dental model, wherein the base plate and the dental model are configured to be fixed to one another in a positionally secure manner. Another object of the invention is an additively produced dental working model for an articulator, comprising an additively produced base plate configured for attachment to the articulator, and an additively produced dental model, wherein the base plate and the dental model are configured to be fixed to one another in a positionally secure manner.