F E AT U R E
Zero In On Design
Dozens of variations of this orthodontic part were produced before the design was fnalized. The creators
were experimenting to get just the right form for optimal ft and functionality. Producing the complex
part through this many iterations would have been impractical if molding or machining had been used, but additive manufacturing provided a natural way to refne the product. Siemer says that though this part might be
made additively in full production, the quantity is still unclear, so IMDS has designed it to preserve production
options. The design avoids undercuts so that metal injection molding remains a possibility.
8— AM Supplement