Patent classifications
B29C64/135
Custom dental attachment placement appliances and appliance manufacturing methods
A method of producing a custom dental anchor application appliance may be provided. The appliance may be for mounting one or more anchors to teeth of a patient. The appliance may be for use in orthodontic aligner treatment. The method may include forming a dental appliance. The forming may be done using a three-dimensional printing approach. The appliance may include a body. The body may include at least one anchor-locating area. The anchor-locating area may be shaped to conform to a mounting area on a surface of a tooth. The appliance may include a receiving structure. The receiving structure may be configured to removably support a dental anchor. The dental anchor may be of a predefined configuration in a fixed position and orientation relative to the body.
ADDITIVE FABRICATION SUPPORT STRUCTURES
Techniques for evaluating support for an object to be fabricated via an additive fabrication device are provided. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional representation of the object is obtained and a plurality of voxels corresponding to the representation of the object is generated. A first supportedness value may be assigned to a first voxel of the plurality of voxels based on an amount of support provided by a support structure to the first voxel, and a second supportedness value determined for a second voxel of the plurality of voxels, wherein the second voxel neighbors the first voxel, and wherein the second supportedness value is determined based on the first supportedness value of the first voxel and a weight value representing a transmission rate of supportedness through voxels of the plurality of voxels.
ADDITIVE FABRICATION SUPPORT STRUCTURES
Techniques for evaluating support for an object to be fabricated via an additive fabrication device are provided. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional representation of the object is obtained and a plurality of voxels corresponding to the representation of the object is generated. A first supportedness value may be assigned to a first voxel of the plurality of voxels based on an amount of support provided by a support structure to the first voxel, and a second supportedness value determined for a second voxel of the plurality of voxels, wherein the second voxel neighbors the first voxel, and wherein the second supportedness value is determined based on the first supportedness value of the first voxel and a weight value representing a transmission rate of supportedness through voxels of the plurality of voxels.
Resin reservoir for photocuring for use in 3D printer and 3D printer
Provided are a resin reservoir (1) for photocuring for use in a 3D printer and a 3D printer using the resin reservoir (1). The resin reservoir (1) comprises: a reservoir body (11) for accommodating a liquid photosensitive resin, at least one side wall of the reservoir body (11) being an optically-transmissive wall (111); a transverse guide element (12) disposed at the reservoir body (11); and a load-bearing element (13) disposed inside the reservoir body (11) and capable of moving transversely along the guide element (12), wherein a load-bearing surface of the load-bearing element (13) faces the optically-transmissive wall (111). The resin reservoir (1) and the 3D printer enable a printed object to be transversely formed at the load-bearing element (13) and kept immersed in the liquid photosensitive resin, and a buoyancy provided by the liquid photosensitive resin can substantially offset the weight of the printed object. Therefore, structural strengths of the load-bearing element (13) and a transmission unit do not need to be reinforced, and the size of an object to be printed can be increased from 14 inches to 20-120 inches.
Resin reservoir for photocuring for use in 3D printer and 3D printer
Provided are a resin reservoir (1) for photocuring for use in a 3D printer and a 3D printer using the resin reservoir (1). The resin reservoir (1) comprises: a reservoir body (11) for accommodating a liquid photosensitive resin, at least one side wall of the reservoir body (11) being an optically-transmissive wall (111); a transverse guide element (12) disposed at the reservoir body (11); and a load-bearing element (13) disposed inside the reservoir body (11) and capable of moving transversely along the guide element (12), wherein a load-bearing surface of the load-bearing element (13) faces the optically-transmissive wall (111). The resin reservoir (1) and the 3D printer enable a printed object to be transversely formed at the load-bearing element (13) and kept immersed in the liquid photosensitive resin, and a buoyancy provided by the liquid photosensitive resin can substantially offset the weight of the printed object. Therefore, structural strengths of the load-bearing element (13) and a transmission unit do not need to be reinforced, and the size of an object to be printed can be increased from 14 inches to 20-120 inches.
Scalable and fast three dimensional printing system
A three dimensional printing system includes a light engine having a spatial light modulator for curing individual layers of a photocure resin to form a three dimensional article of manufacture. The light engine is configured to: (1) receive a slice image that defines an array of energy values for curing a layer, (2) process the slice image to define an image frame compatible with the spatial light modulator, (3) receive an on signal, (4) activate the first light source in response to the on signal; (5) repeatedly send the first defined image frame to the first spatial light modulator during a defined cure time for the single layer of resin; (6) receive an off signal; (7) deactivate the first light source in response to the off signal; and (8) repeat steps (1)-(7) until the three dimensional article of manufacture is formed.
Scalable and fast three dimensional printing system
A three dimensional printing system includes a light engine having a spatial light modulator for curing individual layers of a photocure resin to form a three dimensional article of manufacture. The light engine is configured to: (1) receive a slice image that defines an array of energy values for curing a layer, (2) process the slice image to define an image frame compatible with the spatial light modulator, (3) receive an on signal, (4) activate the first light source in response to the on signal; (5) repeatedly send the first defined image frame to the first spatial light modulator during a defined cure time for the single layer of resin; (6) receive an off signal; (7) deactivate the first light source in response to the off signal; and (8) repeat steps (1)-(7) until the three dimensional article of manufacture is formed.
Orthodontic articles comprising cured free-radically polymerizable composition with improved strength in aqueous environment
Orthodontic articles and polymerizable resin compositions are described. The orthodontic article comprises a cured composition comprising the reaction product of free-radically polymerizable resin comprising 30 to 70 wt. %, inclusive, of at least one urethane component, and 25 to 70 wt. %, inclusive, of reactive diluent(s) comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer. The polymerizable resin comprises no greater than 35 wt. % of reactive diluent(s) having a high affinity for water. Reactive diluent(s) such as monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers having a high affinity for water have low log P values. In one embodiment, the polymerizable resin comprises at least one acidic monomer.
Orthodontic articles comprising cured free-radically polymerizable composition with improved strength in aqueous environment
Orthodontic articles and polymerizable resin compositions are described. The orthodontic article comprises a cured composition comprising the reaction product of free-radically polymerizable resin comprising 30 to 70 wt. %, inclusive, of at least one urethane component, and 25 to 70 wt. %, inclusive, of reactive diluent(s) comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer. The polymerizable resin comprises no greater than 35 wt. % of reactive diluent(s) having a high affinity for water. Reactive diluent(s) such as monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers having a high affinity for water have low log P values. In one embodiment, the polymerizable resin comprises at least one acidic monomer.
PROCESSES FOR THE CONVERSION OF MIXED OXYGENATES FEEDSTOCKS TO HYDROCARBON FUELS
A method for forming a desired hydrocarbon fuel product from a mixed oxygenate feedstock by utilizing chemical processes to form ketones from the oxygenate feed, upgrade the ketones, recycle selected upgraded ketones through the upgrading process to obtain a desired intermediate and hydrogenating the desired intermediate to obtain the desired hydrocarbon fuel product. In various alternative configurations and embodiments this can be accomplished in a number of ways, and originate in a number of different positions and occasions.