公开(公告)号：US20210170522A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-10

申请号：US17182207

申请日：2021-02-22

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James C. CULP

IPC: B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/08 ,  A61C13/00 ,  B23K26/38 ,  B23K26/064

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.

公开(公告)号：US20240066628A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-29

申请号：US18506103

申请日：2023-11-09

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James C. CULP

IPC: B23K26/06 ,  A61C13/00 ,  B23K26/064 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/38 ,  G05B15/02

CPC classification number: B23K26/0626 ,  A61C13/0006 ,  B23K26/064 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K26/083 ,  B23K26/0853 ,  B23K26/0861 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/38 ,  G05B15/02 ,  A61C7/08

Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. Systems may include a laser, an optical component, a fixture for holding a dental appliance, and a controller. A cut path for trimming excess material from the dental appliance may be derived from a virtual cut path in a virtual version of the dental appliance. The excess material may be trimmed from the dental appliance along the cut path with the laser while adjusting a laser energy applied to the dental appliance to reduce a brittleness at an edge of the cut path. Adjusting the applied laser energy may include adjusting one or more of: a power of the laser, an optical component of the laser to adjust a focal length of the laser, and a relative orientation of the laser with respect to the dental appliance in at least three axes of movement.

公开(公告)号：US20200338666A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-29

申请号：US16924110

申请日：2020-07-08

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James C. CULP

IPC: B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/08 ,  A61C13/00 ,  B23K26/38 ,  B23K26/064

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.

公开(公告)号：US20190337091A1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-07

申请号：US16512289

申请日：2019-07-15

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James C. CULP

IPC: B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K26/38 ,  A61C13/00 ,  B23K26/064

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.

公开(公告)号：US20230129002A1

公开(公告)日：2023-04-27

申请号：US18088518

申请日：2022-12-23

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James C. CULP

IPC: B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/08 ,  A61C13/00 ,  G05B15/02 ,  B23K26/38 ,  B23K26/064

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.

公开(公告)号：US20210154766A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-27

申请号：US17167056

申请日：2021-02-03

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James C. CULP

IPC: B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/08 ,  A61C13/00 ,  B23K26/38 ,  B23K26/064

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.

公开(公告)号：US20210001514A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-07

申请号：US16983876

申请日：2020-08-03

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Yevgeniy SIROVSKIY ,  James C. CULP

IPC: B29B13/02 ,  B29C51/42

Abstract: A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.