Project Title: Dental Handpiece Redesign
Project Team: Elizabeth Shelley, Brian McGrath, Dave Golebiewski, Gary Stump
Executive Summary: Dentsply Preventive Care is manufacturing a new scalar (device for cleaning teeth) as shown. They need a new handpiece cover that will meet customer requirements. The project goal is to develop two different prototypes that appear and feel like the final manufactured product. Two magnetic coupling designs and three exterior handpiece covers were developed. A total of five prototypes were created in a SLA rapid prototyping machine. These prototypes satisfied the hygienist's need for balance, weight, size, comfort, and cable drag. Also, the handpiece designs allow the user to easily slide the magnetic coupling to interchange different front pieces of the scalar. The major areas of study included ergonomic analysis, materials research, design development, design analysis, CAD drawings, and rapid prototyping.
Date: Fall 2000
Faculty Coach: Dr. Ashok Belegundu - Mechanical Engineering Department
Sponsor: Dentsply Preventative Care, York, PA