Selective Staining in 3D Printed Dental Restorations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-color 3D printing processes for ceramic slips in dental restorations face challenges with high demands on print head compatibility due to particle size, fill level, viscosity, and abrasion, particularly when using highly filled ceramic slips.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for producing dental restorations by jet printing, which separates the selective application of ceramic slips and coloring solutions, allowing for the use of the same or different print heads for each process. This approach reduces the number of print heads required and improves the homogeneity and fixation of the dye solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pre-colored slips with different translucencies and mechanical properties are used for each color, then coloring precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring multiple print heads
Solution Approach 1:
The process is segmented into two independent stages: first jetting the ceramic slip to build the green body, then separately jetting the coloring solution onto the dried slip layer. This separation allows each process to be optimized independently, reducing the need for multiple specialized print heads while maintaining coloring precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceramic slip layer is dried completely before applying the coloring solution. This preliminary drying action prevents diffusion of the dye solution and ensures homogeneous coloring, while allowing the same print head to be used for both slip and color application.
2Device complexity
If the same print head is used for both slip application and coloring, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to cross-contamination and difficulty in selective application
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process is divided into two separate operations: slip jetting and coloring solution jetting. By separating these operations in time and allowing complete drying between them, a single print head can be used for both purposes without cross-contamination, maintaining selective application precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Complete drying of the slip layer is performed as a preliminary action before applying the coloring solution. This ensures that the porous structure is fixed, preventing dye diffusion and enabling precise selective coloring even when using the same print head for both materials.
3Productivity
If coloring is performed on wet slip layers, then productivity is improved by reducing process steps, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to diffusion and running of the dye solution
Solution Approach 1:
Complete drying of the slip layer is performed as a preliminary action before applying the coloring solution. This creates a stable porous structure that prevents dye solution diffusion and running, ensuring local homogeneity and precise coloring control.
Solution Approach 2:
The moisture content parameter of the slip layer is changed from wet to completely dry state before coloring. This parameter change transforms the layer from a state that allows dye diffusion to a state that ensures homogeneous, controlled coloring while maintaining process efficiency.
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
The method achieves efficient and crack-free drying of layers, reduces diffusion of the dye solution, and improves the natural appearance of dental restorations by allowing independent control of slip and dye application, ultimately leading to a reduction in the number of print heads needed.
Implementation Method 1
This process dries the jetted material layer without cracking
Implementation Method 2
This achieves the technical advantage, for example, of causing a precipitation reaction of the dye solution
Implementation Method 3
The applied dye solution is fixed using a caustic solution. This achieves the technical advantage of preventing the dye solution from running
Implementation Method 4
the dental restoration is sintered in a sintering furnace. This achieves the technical advantage of producing a dental restoration with high strength
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing a dental restoration (100) by jet printing, comprising the steps of jet printing (S101) one or more layers of the dental restoration using a ceramic slip; and jet printing (S102) a coloring solution onto the one or more layers.