Methods for threading sinterable materials and related apparatus and systems

摘要

Methods for threading ceramic materials, such as ceramic materials used for spinal implants or other biomedical implants. In some implementations, an expected rate of shrinkage of the block upon undergoing a firing process may be determined. A scaling factor may then be applied using the expected rate of shrinkage to select a tap having a size larger than a desired thread size. A green block may then be tapped with the selected tap to form a threaded opening in the green block. The block may be machined in order to remove cracks caused by the tapping process and/or to form the block into a desired shape/size. The green block may then be fired, which may result in a reduction of a size of the block and a size of the threaded opening.

主权项

1. A method for threading a ceramic material, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a ceramic powder into a mold; compressing the ceramic powder into a block; determining an expected rate of shrinkage of the block upon undergoing a firing process; applying a scaling factor using the expected rate of shrinkage to select a tap having a size larger than a desired thread size; tapping the block with the selected tap to form a threaded opening in the block; machining the block by removing material from the block comprising cracks formed during the step of tapping the block, wherein the step of machining the block comprises:
identifying a thickness of a layer of material in at least one surface of the block comprising at least substantially all of the cracks formed during the step of tapping the block; andremoving the layer of material having the thickness so as to remove at least substantially all of the cracks formed during the step of tapping the block; and firing the block, wherein the firing reduces a size of the block and reduces a size of the threaded opening, wherein the step of machining the block is performed before the step of firing the block, and wherein the step of tapping the block is performed before the step of firing the block.