Dental Polishing Path Control for Constant Immersion Depth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dental polishing tools experience high wear rates, particularly on sharp edges, leading to premature replacement and increased costs, with existing methods failing to significantly improve utilization efficiency without incurring additional costs.

Innovation Solution

A numerically controlled dental polishing device adjusts the trajectory based on process parameters and real-time measurements to maintain a constant immersion dimension, compensating for tool wear by dynamically adjusting the plunge depth, ensuring consistent polishing effectiveness without excessive tool wear or material removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the polishing tool is moved along a predefined trajectory with fine resolution, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the polishing tool experiences high wear rates particularly on sharp edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface roughnessVSAvoidtool wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polishing trajectory is dynamically adjusted based on real-time tool wear compensation. The control device modifies the polishing path parameters (such as immersion depth and feed rate) during the polishing process to maintain optimal polishing conditions while reducing tool wear on sharp edges like gingival margins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the polishing parameters including immersion depth, feed rate, and trajectory based on the detected tool wear state. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains polishing quality while reducing the wear rate on vulnerable areas such as sharp edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the polishing assembly is replaced after expected service life, then tool wear is managed, but costs increase due to premature replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool wear managementVSAvoiddowntime for replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements real-time feedback through sensors that monitor tool wear during polishing operations. This feedback is processed by the control device to detect wear trends and predict remaining tool life, enabling replacement only when actually needed rather than following a fixed schedule, thus avoiding premature replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device performs preliminary wear detection and trend analysis during normal operation to predict tool failure before it occurs. This allows for planned replacement at the optimal moment, avoiding both premature replacement and unexpected tool failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the accuracy of the polishing tool's path of movement is increased, then utilization is improved, but the hoped-for significant improvement in wear reduction is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveutilizationVSAvoidtool wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polishing path is dynamically adapted based on real-time wear detection. Rather than simply increasing path accuracy, the system modifies the path parameters (immersion depth, feed rate, trajectory) in response to detected wear, achieving wear reduction through adaptive control rather than precision alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes operational parameters including immersion depth, feed rate, and trajectory based on wear detection. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain high utilization while achieving significant wear reduction by operating in optimal parameter ranges throughout the tool's service life.

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 extends the life of polishing tools, reduces wear, and maintains polishing quality by dynamically adjusting the immersion depth according to tool wear and process parameters, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the polishing arrangement deforms elastically when in contact with the workpiece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4050437A1Dental polishing device and method for operating a dental polishing device
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 IVOCLAR VIVADENT AG
  • EP4050437A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4050437A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4050437A1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

This document describes a method for operating a dental polishing device comprising a polishing unit driven by a dental machine tool. The polishing unit consists of a circular polishing core and a circular polishing arrangement surrounding the polishing core. The polishing device also includes a workpiece to be polished, and the polishing arrangement deforms elastically upon contact with the workpiece. A numerically controlled device moves the polishing arrangement along a path relative to the workpiece. The workpiece enters the polishing arrangement with a constant or substantially constant immersion depth. The control device adjusts the immersion depth based on process parameters.