Product category:
Rapid Prototyping
News Release from: Moog FCS | Subject: Viper SLA systems
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 17 June 2003
SLA systems speed hearing-aid production
Danish hearing aid manufacturer Widex has acquired multiple Viper SLA systems for custom manufacturing of "in-the-ear" hearing aids.
Danish hearing aid manufacturer, Widex, has acquired multiple Viper SLA systems for custom manufacturing of "in-the-ear" (ITE) hearing aids A pioneer in hearing aid manufacturing, Widex is one of six major hearing aid companies which have now purchased the Viper SLA system to revolutionise hearing aid manufacturing
Widex will use the stereolithography (SLA) systems as part of its worldwide patented manufacturing method for hearing aid production.
"A new paradigm is occurring in the manufacturing of hearing aids.
There are now nearly 29 million people reporting hearing difficulties with only 22% of these currently using hearing aids.
That number will grow as the population ages", says Brian Service, CEO of 3D Systems.
"Each hearing aid user needs a custom-made hearing aid shell for proper fit and function, and that's where our digital manufacturing solution comes in.
Traditional production techniques, which require manual processing of the hearing aid outer shell, simply don't offer manufacturers the ability to fabricate highly accurate outer shells on a production basis".
To address the challenge of proper fit and function, 3D Systems developed an advanced digital manufacturing (ADM) process to be used as an inline automated manufacturing process to enhance production quality and functionality.
Widex chose 3D Systems' Viper SLA system because of its ability to fabricate highly accurate, fine detailed hearing aid shells on a production basis, while maintaining the current hearing aid look and feel.
"Our solid imaging systems enable Widex to use our systems to produce the final hearing aid shell for inline manufacturing process.
This alleviates production bottlenecks and provides the flexibility needed to meet market demand for faster product delivery and greater accuracy.
The industry has a potential to produce an estimated 5-7 million hearing aids per year using our ADM solution", says Wayne Merson, 3D Systems' Business Development Manager for Hearing Aids.
"As major hearing aid companies change the way they manufacture hearing aids, we expect the demand for solid imaging systems will continue to grow".
"One of the benefits of 3D Systems' technology is the fine feature detail that is achieved using the Viper SLA system to reproduce the custom, made-to-order shell", says Jan Topholm, CEO of Widex.
"The material looks and feels like the traditional hearing aids found in the market today.
The Viper system allows us to convert a manual production process to a digitally automated process - CAMISHA (computer aided manufacturing of individual shells for hearing aids)".
"Our patented manufacturing process, CAMISHA, uses the Viper SLA system combined with advanced scanning, providing significant quality improvements for hearing aid users as well as the personnel engaged in the production and fitting of hearing aids.
With CAMISHA, hearing aid users will receive far more precise and well-functioned hearing aids with a better fit and far greater comfort", concludes Topholm.
"The Viper SLA systems also allows Widex to create new and more intricate designs that were not possible with the manual process".
Widex currently has five Viper SLA systems installed and expects to place additional Viper systems around the world.
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