Sintering Dental Workpiece Suspension via Connecting Piece

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for sintering dental workpieces face challenges such as material inefficiency, high costs, and distortion due to complex suspension systems that require multiple hooks or elements, leading to undesirable impressions and delays in the sintering process, especially for larger and more complex dental structures.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a dental workpiece with interconnected links suspended via a separate connecting piece that attaches to a holding device, allowing for even thermal radiation and minimizing material usage by using a base element with connecting webs, which reduces distortion and material consumption, and can be designed as a circular structure for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple hooks or suspension elements are used to suspend the dental workpiece, then the workpiece can be securely held during sintering, but material consumption increases and manufacturing costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure holding of workpieceVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple suspension functions into a single integrated base element. Instead of using separate hooks or suspension elements, the base element is designed with a geometry that provides stable suspension through its shape alone, merging the structural support function with the suspension function. This reduces material consumption while maintaining secure holding during sintering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the dental construction, provides stable suspension during sintering, and defines the positioning of the workpiece. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized suspension components, reducing overall material consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If hooks or suspension elements directly contact the dental workpiece, then the workpiece can be suspended, but unwanted impressions are left on the workpiece surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension capabilityVSAvoidunwanted impressions on surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the suspension function from direct contact with the dental workpiece. The base element is designed to be suspended without its top surface contacting the dental construction directly. Instead, the dental construction is placed on the base element, which provides suspension through its geometry rather than through direct contact points, thereby avoiding impressions on the workpiece surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If complex additional holding components are provided around the dental workpiece members, then the workpiece can be stabilized during sintering, but material consumption and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece stability during sinteringVSAvoidcomplexity of holding components
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the holding function into the base element and the dental construction itself. The base element provides the necessary stability through its geometric design, while the dental construction members are arranged on top of it. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex additional holding components, reducing both material consumption and manufacturing complexity while maintaining stability during sintering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the dental workpiece is not suspended but placed on the sintering chamber floor, then the sintering process can proceed, but thermal radiation is uneven and distortion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesintering process continuityVSAvoiddimensional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates an equipotential suspension system where the base element is designed to be suspended in a manner that distributes thermal radiation evenly across the dental construction. The geometry of the base element ensures uniform heating from all directions, preventing distortion and maintaining dimensional accuracy while allowing the sintering process to proceed continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

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 enables the production of larger dental workpieces with minimal distortion and material usage, ensuring even thermal radiation and preventing unwanted impressions by suspending the workpiece from the holding device, thus improving the sintering process efficiency and reducing material waste.

Implementation Method 1

the dental workpiece is suspended from the holding device, it can also be achieved that the work is achieved more evenly through thermal radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

In the manufacture of dental workpieces, e.g. B. from sintered metal parts, there is a great challenge in the sintering of the green compact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP2974689B1Assembly for sintering a dental work piece
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 STEGER HEINRICH
  • EP2974689B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2974689B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3a
  • EP2974689B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5a

AI summary

Arrangement (1) for sintering a dental workpiece (2), comprising a machined dental workpiece (2) and a holding device (3) for the dental workpiece (2), wherein the dental workpiece (2) corresponds in size to a dental construction (4) with at least five, preferably at least eight, interconnected elements (5), the dental workpiece (2) is suspended on the holding device (3) and the dental workpiece (2) is connected or connectable to the holding device (3) via a connecting piece (6) formed in or on the dental workpiece (2) and separate from the dental construction (4).