Search Results (2)

Background: The precision of bracket manufacturing is fundamental to ensure the correct expression of the inbuilt information. The objective of this study was to determine the actual tip and torque values of a pool of stainless steel brackets, pre-adjusted according to the MBT prescription values, and to compare these actual values with those stated by the manufacturers in order to test their compliance with the tolerance limits reported in the ISO 27020:2019. Methods: A sample of 360 stainless steel brackets, from 12 different providers, were evaluated. All brackets had a nominal slot size of 0.022 in., belonged to the upper right central incisor, and were manufactured with the metal injection molding technique (MIM). For each provider, three different batches of the same bracket series were tested. A single-blind design was used for bracket coding. Results: Only five systems displayed torque mean values that matched the declared values (p > 0.05). Only one system did not respect the tolerance limits established in the ISO 27020:2019 norm. The tip values were different from those declared in seven of the assessed systems; however, none exceeded the tolerance limits. The inter-batch variability in most cases was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In most of the assessed systems, there can be a difference between the actual and the declared torque values, while tip information is usually accurately incorporated into the bracket slot. Lack of precision in the manufacturing process can reduce the efficacy of the appliance and force the clinician to compensate for dimensional inaccuracy through wire bending. Full article

Precision glass molding is the most appropriate method for batch production of glass lenses with high surface accuracy and qualified optical performance. However, the form error caused by material expansion and contraction is the main factor affecting the precision of the molded lenses, thus the mold must be pre-compensated. In this paper, an effective method of mold pre-compensation based on mathematical analysis is established. Based on the thermal expansion curve of D-ZK3 glass, the freezing fictive temperature of the glass under the actual cooling rate is measured, and the mold pre-compensation factor can be quickly calculated. Experimental results show that the peak valley (PV) value of the surface form error of molded aspheric lens with an aperture of 5.3 mm is effectively reduced from 2.04 μm to 0.31 μm after the pre-compensation, thus meeting the geometric evaluation criterion. Full article