Dental Tool RFID Integration for Service Life Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental CNC milling/grinding machines face issues with using inadequate dental tools, leading to low-quality restorations and tool breakage due to mismatched machining processes, resulting in user dissatisfaction and potential damage to restorations.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a miniaturized RFID tag on the dental tool's shaft, allowing the dental CNC milling/grinding machine to read and write tool-specific information, including unique IDs, type, manufacturer, lot number, length, and remaining service life, to ensure proper tool usage and prevent misuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tracking of tool service life is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of machining quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an RFID-based automated identification and tracking system. The RFID tag stores tool service life information electronically, and the reading device automatically retrieves this data, eliminating the need for manual logging while ensuring reliable tracking of tool usage and preventing machining with worn tools.
2Reliability
If RFID tag is integrated into the dental tool, then reliability of tool identification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag is integrated within the dental tool structure, with the tag embedded in the tool handle or shaft. This nesting approach allows the identification system to be part of the tool itself rather than a separate external system, improving reliability of tool identification while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through compact integration.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive tool information is stored in RFID tag, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag autonomously stores comprehensive tool information including service life, manufacturer details, and usage history. The system allows the tool itself to provide its own information through the RFID tag, eliminating the need for external manual information management. The reading device simply retrieves data from the tag without requiring complex external databases or manual entry systems.
4Productivity
If service life monitoring is automated, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback by continuously monitoring tool service life through the RFID tag and providing real-time information to the operator. When the tool approaches its service life limit, the system automatically alerts the user, enabling timely tool replacement. This feedback mechanism improves productivity by preventing machining delays due to tool failure while using a relatively simple monitoring architecture that reads RFID data and provides basic alerts.
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
Prevents low-quality restorations and tool breakage by ensuring the correct tool is used for the machining process, extending tool life, and enhancing user safety and satisfaction by automating tool management and reducing the need for manual logging of tool information.
Implementation Method 1
a miniaturized RFID tag which is arranged in front of the back end of the shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a dental tool (1) for use in a dental CNC milling/grinding machine for machining a dental restoration from a workpiece (6), the dental tool (1) comprising: a shaft (2); characterized by further comprising: a miniaturized RFID tag (3) which is arranged in front of the back end (2a) of the shaft (2). The present invention also relates to a dental CNC milling/grinding machine (5) characterized by comprising: a machine compartment (5a) including one or more carriage units (5b) each adapted to exchangeably receive and drive one or more dental tools (1) for machining a dental restoration from a workpiece (6); one or more transceiver units (5c) each adapted to read and/or write the miniaturized RFID tag (3) of a dental tool (1); and a control unit adapted to control the transceiver units (5c), and the carriage units (5b) based on the information read from the miniaturized RFID tags (3).