Automated Dental Furnace Program Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of dental components is labor-intensive and prone to errors due to the complexity and manual nature of existing methods, which involves multiple steps and requires significant human intervention.

Innovation Solution

A method that utilizes a virtual model to automatically select or create programs for operating a dental furnace, enabling additive manufacturing of the dental component model, embedding, and firing processes, thereby reducing human error and effort through automation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual methods are used for producing dental components, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but work effort increases and errors occur more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror reductionVSAvoidwork effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically creates firing programs based on virtual model data without requiring manual operator intervention. The control device autonomously processes the virtual model, determines appropriate firing parameters, and executes the firing process, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous human operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical operations are replaced by an automated control system that uses digital data processing. The control device reads virtual model data, automatically determines firing parameters, and controls the firing process through electronic means rather than manual mechanical adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple individual steps are used in the production process, then detailed control is possible, but the number of error sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror reductionVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate production steps are merged into an integrated automated process. The control device combines virtual model processing, firing parameter determination, and firing execution into a single unified automated workflow, reducing the number of separate operations and potential error sources between steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual model serves as an intermediary that carries all necessary information through the production process. Instead of multiple manual transfer steps between different operations, the digital virtual model contains and transmits all required data automatically to the control device, which then executes the firing process based on this single information source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If automated program selection is implemented, then work effort is reduced, but adaptability to specific cases may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework effortVSAvoidprogram adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The firing program is dynamically determined based on the specific characteristics of each virtual model. Rather than using fixed static programs, the control device automatically adjusts firing parameters according to the unique geometry, material requirements, and specifications contained in each virtual model dataset, enabling both automation and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically changes firing parameters based on virtual model data. The control device extracts relevant parameters from the virtual model such as material type, component geometry, and desired properties, then automatically adjusts temperature, time, and atmospheric conditions to optimize the firing process for each specific case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces the work effort and minimizes errors by automating key steps in the dental component production process, ensuring optimal results while saving costs and improving reproducibility.

Implementation Method 1

removing the model from the embedding compound, in particular by heating or burning out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

removing the model from the embedding compound, in particular by heating or burning out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

The raw material is melted using a suitable method and a corresponding device within the negative mold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP3716890B1Method for producing a dental component
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 REDIOS TEC
  • EP3716890B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3716890B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3716890B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a dental component, in particular a dental prosthesis or a partial dental prosthesis, by means of a dental oven, comprising the following steps: (i) creating a virtual model of the dental component, (ii) automatically selecting one, two or more programs and/or automatically creating one, two or more programs and/or creating one, two or more proposals for a program for operating the dental oven on the basis of the virtual model of the dental component, (iii) producing a model of the dental component, (iv) embedding the model in an investment, (v) removing the model from the investment, in particular by heating or by burning out, in order to obtain a female mold of the model, (vi) introducing a raw material required for producing the dental component into the female mold, (vii) producing the dental component in the female mold in the dental oven on the basis of the selected, created or proposed program.