Laser cutting
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorJames C. CULP
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.
Claims30
A method of manufacturing a trimmed dental appliance, the method comprising:
- forming a dental appliance of a series of dental appliances, wherein the series of dental appliances correspond to a patient-specific treatment plan for incrementally moving teeth;
- identifying a cut path for trimming excess material from the dental appliance;
- determining, based on the cut path, adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of:
- a laser, an optical component, or a fixture holding the dental appliance, to cut along the cut path and trim the excess material from the dental appliance;
- and
- trimming the excess material from the dental appliance along the cut path with the laser while adjusting at least one of:
- the laser, the optical component, and the fixture holding the dental appliance according to the adjustment instructions.
A method of manufacturing a trimmed dental appliance, the method comprising:
- forming a dental appliance of a series of dental appliances, wherein the series of dental appliances correspond to a patient-specific treatment plan for incrementally moving teeth;
- identifying a cut path for trimming excess material from the dental appliance, wherein the cut path represents at least a portion of a gum line of a patient;
- determining, based on the cut path, adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of:
- a laser, an optical component, or a fixture holding the dental appliance, to cut along the cut path;
- and
- trimming the excess material from the dental appliance along the cut path with the laser while adjusting at least one of:
- the laser, the optical component, and the fixture holding the dental appliance according to the adjustment instructions so that the laser energy applied to the dental appliance along the cut path stays within a predetermined acceptable range.
A method of manufacturing a trimmed dental appliance, the method comprising:
- forming a dental appliance of a series of dental appliances, wherein the series of dental appliances correspond to a patient-specific treatment plan for incrementally moving teeth;
- identifying a cut path for trimming excess material from the dental appliance, wherein the cut path represents at least a portion of a gum line of a patient;
- determining, based on the cut path, adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of:
- a laser, an optical component, or a fixture holding the dental appliance, to cut along the cut path and trim the excess material from the dental appliance, wherein determining the adjustment instructions comprises determining adjustment of at least one of:
- laser power, laser movement, optical component type, optical component movement, and fixture movement;
- and
- trimming the excess material from the dental appliance along the cut path using the laser, optical component and fixture while adjusting the laser energy applied to the cut path by adjusting at least one of:
- laser power, laser movement, optical component type, optical component movement, and fixture movement according to the adjustment instructions.
A laser cutting system for trimming a dental appliance, the system comprising:
- a laser;
- an optical component comprising a lens, a mirror or combinations thereof;
- a fixture configured to hold the dental appliance;
- and
- a controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
- identify a cut path for trimming excess material from the dental appliance;
- determine, based on the cut path, adjustment instructions for adjusting at least one of:
- the laser, the optical component, and the fixture, to cut along the cut path;
- and
- trim the excess material from the dental appliance along the cut path with the laser while adjusting at least one of:
- the laser, the optical component, and the fixture according to the adjustment instructions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.