Case Studies
3D Printing Application In Hangzhou Tingoton Hearing Aids Fabrication
Case Studies Apr 23,2021 1347

As a kind of medical device worn in the human ear canal, hearing aids have high requirements for comfort, and customized hearing aids are the way to achieve high comfort. Digital technologies such as 3D printing and 3D scanning have brought accurate and efficient mass customization solutions to the hearing aid manufacturing industry.

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Today, let’s go into Hangzhou Tingoton, a company whose main business is manufacturing hearing devices, and see how 3D printing works for them. Since 2018, Tingoton utilizes 3D printing technology to print shells of hearing aids. And they choose DLP printer because of its high resolution and quick speed.

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Why DLP?

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DLP stands for Digital light processing . In DLP 3D printing, light is projected in the shape of each desired layer into the liquid resin, allowing an entire layer to be created simultaneously. With DLP, print time is independent of the surface area of each layer; each layer is cured quickly with a single flash of light, regardless of the total surface area. So it could meet the demand of high efficiency, without any sacrifice on accuracy.

What are the benefits of 3D printing brings to Hangzhou Tingoton?


Fast, convenient and labor-saving, 20-40 molds can be printed in 2 hours

The traditional method needs to go through complicated steps as mold making, cutting, polishing, wax hanging, agar mold making, negative mold making, mold repairing and assembly, which is time-consuming and labor-consuming. With the help of 3D printing technology, the workflow can be made only by taking the mold, scanning, designing, printing, post-processing and assembly, which can greatly shorten the production time and improve the user's wearing experience.

“Before we have 3D printer, I may need 2 hours to fabricate 1 ear mold, but now, I spend print 2hours to print as much as 40 models at the same time, and I don’t need to stay in front of machine, I can free my hands in 2 hours and do other thing, it is so efficient!” Wang said, the technician of Tingoton.


Highly customized, One ear, one mode

Custom fitted 3D printed hearing aids are modeled on the anatomy of each individual patient. Compared to retail versions, these custom models are vastly more comfortable, with their superior fit reducing movement or slipping within the ear. Some of the smallest ITCs, especially those worn deep within the ear canal, are almost exclusively sold as custom models.

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The process works by:

Step 1: A silicone mold of the ear canal is created as normal.

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Step 2: Instead of creating a negative mold as traditional techniques, the impression is instead scanned using a 3D scanner and uploaded into CAD software to design.

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Step 3: The model printed in high transparent resin.

Step 4: Clean and post-cure, polish and glazing.

The benefit of applying 3D printing in hearing aids is more than that, it is more accurate than that of silicone molds, and it also reduces the amount of material needed to make each hearing aid. Forbes magazine once commented that 3D printing technology has revolutionized the hearing aid industry. It is estimated that by 2021, the value of 3D printing market for hearing aids will be $35600 billion, and it is expected to reach $4156 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% in the forecast period.

If you are looking to purchase an audiology 3D printer, feel free to contact and send your enquiry.