A low-hazardous electropolishing process has been developed to remove oxide layer(s) from the surface of nitinol needles. Low concentrations of citric acid and sulfamic acid are mixed with medium concentrations of sulfuric acid to use as an electrolyte solution. The process can be easily fitted into current suture needle manufacturing processes as well as into processes require electropolishing of nitinol-containing medical devices.

The invention relates to a method for the electrochemical polishing of metal surfaces by means of repeating pulse sequences, wherein at least one anodic pulse is provided, the current intensity of which rises continuously in the time curve up to a specifiable value. The invention further relates to the use of said method for components produced in 3-D and to a system therefor.

The invention relates to a method for the electrochemical polishing of metal surfaces by means of repeating pulse sequences, wherein at least one anodic pulse is provided, the current intensity of which rises continuously in the time curve up to a specifiable value. The invention further relates to the use of said method for components produced in 3-D and to a system therefor.

An electrolyte solution is provided for an electrochemical machining process. The electrolyte solution includes a substantially water free ionic solvent, an ionisable material in the form of an inorganic salt; and a viscosity modifier. The electrolyte has a viscosity in the range of 1 to 50 mPa.Math.s at 20° C.

An electrolyte solution is provided for an electrochemical machining process. The electrolyte solution includes a substantially water free ionic solvent, an ionisable material in the form of an inorganic salt; and a viscosity modifier. The electrolyte has a viscosity in the range of 1 to 50 mPa.Math.s at 20° C.

A rotor for polishing hollow tubes, in which an outer tube is slidable over an inner tube and is provided with at least one window in the wall. At the window on the inner tube, a plate vane is fixed at the base end to an auxiliary shaft arranged perpendicular to the main shaft so as to be able to rotationally move. A link bar is arranged in the main shaft direction to extend between the outer tube and the plate vane. The rotor is able to transition between an initial state (plate vane closed) and an operational state (plate vane open) by the inner tube moving relative to the outer tube. An electrode for electropolishing or a buff for mechanical polishing is fixed to the tip end of the plate vane. This allows for adjustment of the position of the plate vane and control of the polished state.

A method is provided for manufacturing a component. The method includes connecting a component comprising an internal passage and formed by an additive manufacturing process to a power supply, the component functioning as an anode, connecting a cathode to the power supply, the cathode being disposed in an electrolyte solution, the cathode being positioned externally to the internal passage of the component, contacting the internal passage of the component with the electrolyte solution, and using the power supply, applying a potential difference and current flow between the component and the cathode.

A method is provided for manufacturing a component. The method includes connecting a component comprising an internal passage and formed by an additive manufacturing process to a power supply, the component functioning as an anode, connecting a cathode to the power supply, the cathode being disposed in an electrolyte solution, the cathode being positioned externally to the internal passage of the component, contacting the internal passage of the component with the electrolyte solution, and using the power supply, applying a potential difference and current flow between the component and the cathode.

The invention relates to a three-dimensional orthodontic retainer (2) and to a method for producing such a retainer (2) in which the three-dimensional orthodontic retainer (2) is matched to the exact shape of the adjacent teeth (3) and is produced from a blank (1) in such a manner that the physical properties of the material of the remaining part of the blank (1) are unchanged in the retainer (2). The method for producing the three-dimensional orthodontic retainer (2) comprises the following method steps: creating three-dimensional model of the structure of the patient's teeth (3); designing a customised, precisely fitting model of the retainer (2); producing the retainer (2) on the basis of the designed 3D model by computer-controlled deposition or application of material.

A method for electropolishing a manufactured metallic article, the method comprising: contacting the metallic article with an electropolishing electrolyte; and electropolishing the metallic article in the electropolishing electrolyte through the application of an applied current regime comprising: at least one electropolishing regime, each electropolishing regime comprising a current density of at least 2 A/cm.sup.2 and a voltage comprising a shaped waveform having a frequency from 2 Hz to 300 kHz, a minimum voltage of at least 0 V and a maximum voltage of between 0.5 to 500 V.