First of all I apologize for not being an engineer, I'm in fact an orthodontist and I'm desperately looking for information that I can't find anywhere else.
I'm struggling with a concept for a new orthodontic device which has to be made of NiTi alloy.
What I need is a CAD/CAM printed device customized for every patient. The property this device needs is superelasticity, therefore I should obtain a nitinol machined piece in austenitic phase at body temperature. I know that usually nitinol is supplied in wires, springs and sheets, but what I need to create is a thee-dimensional object.
In order to obtain such an object I have to manage some issues about setting shape into nitinol austenite.
Since selective laser melting (SLM) isn't a viable method, according to one SLM company, in order to have a nitinol into austenitic form at body temperature (and superelasticity) what process should I consider?
I was thinking to laser cut a nitinol sheet and then force it into a printed mold, then heat into a oven to 550°C for 15 minutes.
Is this a viable option? Or after the water-cooling I could lose superelasticity?
Thank you so much!
I'm struggling with a concept for a new orthodontic device which has to be made of NiTi alloy.
What I need is a CAD/CAM printed device customized for every patient. The property this device needs is superelasticity, therefore I should obtain a nitinol machined piece in austenitic phase at body temperature. I know that usually nitinol is supplied in wires, springs and sheets, but what I need to create is a thee-dimensional object.
In order to obtain such an object I have to manage some issues about setting shape into nitinol austenite.
Since selective laser melting (SLM) isn't a viable method, according to one SLM company, in order to have a nitinol into austenitic form at body temperature (and superelasticity) what process should I consider?
I was thinking to laser cut a nitinol sheet and then force it into a printed mold, then heat into a oven to 550°C for 15 minutes.
Is this a viable option? Or after the water-cooling I could lose superelasticity?
Thank you so much!
