Rotary saw and method for sectioning dental models

A rotary table saw for sectioning dental models, comprising:

• a housing having a base portion, a motor housed in the base portion for driving a rotary blade oriented in a vertical plane, a controllable depressible horizontal work table mounted on the base portion covering the blade for supporting a dental model on its surface, control means responsive to the downward application of pressure on the work table for lowering the work table by a distance corresponding to the amount of pressure applied, a slit in said work table for progressively exposing said rotary blade through the work table as the work table is depressed for controlled feeding of the blade as the blade cuts upwardly through the underside of the dental model, and a vacuum outlet coupled to the base portion, the vacuum outlet being placed in flow communication with the surface of the work table during depression of the work table to remove the saw dust from the work table, and comprising a removable top plate on said working table for providing access to the rotary blade for maintenance thereof, and comprising latch means coupled to said work table for locking the table in a depressed position for access to the rotary blade.

A rotary table saw for sectioning dental models, comprising:

• a housing having a base portion, a motor housing in the base portion for driving a rotary blade oriented in a vertical plane, a controllable depressible horizontal work table mounted on the base portion covering the blade for supporting a dental model on its surface, control means responsive to the downward application of pressure on the work table for lowering the work table by a distance corresponding to the amount of pressure applied, a slit in said work table for progressively exposing said rotary blade through the work table as the work table is depressed for controlled feeding of the blade as the blade cuts upwardly through the underside of the dental model, and a vacuum outlet coupled to the base portion, the vacuum outlet being placed in flow communication with the surface of the work table during depression of the work table to remove the saw dust from the work table, wherein said vacuum outlet comprises an air chamber positioned on said base portion behind said work table, the height of said air chamber corresponding to the distance that the work table is lowered, whereby lowering of the work table exposes more of the air chamber.

A method of segmenting dental models containing impressions of teeth projecting upward from a base while protecting the margin area between natural and artificial parts of the model, comprising the steps of marking a desired cutting line on the model;

• cutting along the marked cutting line occlusally to a slight depth to score the cutting line in the model;
• placing the dental model on a horizontal table, and sawing upwardly from the underside of the dental model until the cut approaches the occlusal cut.