The custom-fit earphones are the way of the future for consumer audio experiences. For the first time, it is now possible to combine phone scanning, manufacturing automation, and affordable 3D printing to enable mass customization, bringing custom fit as an approachable earphone category to the mass market. This is made possible by the rapid adoption of smartphones and 3D printing.
Obtaining and Preparing a File
Custom-fit earbuds provide a special, personalised listening experience while blocking out background noise and being cosy enough to use all day. As well as providing a more comfortable and noise-isolating fit, this eliminates any chance of earbuds falling out of the ear.
In place of the more conventional ear impression procedure, customers can now scan their ears using their smartphones. By utilising artificial intelligence to enhance scan quality and rebuilding sections of the ear that the phone was unable to record, the Hearables3D smartphone app can be utilised in this situation to produce a scan in under a minute.
After that, the scan is transferred immediately to a cloud-based machine learning system that transforms the scanned ear shape using statistical modelling.
From CAD to 3D Printer
Direct file import from your smartphone into your preferred CAD programme is possible. Here, you’ll want to check that the ear tip’s base is the same shape and size as the earphone you want to attach to.
Traditionally, a competent modeller would be hired by hearing aid makers to assist with this stage. But because of quick developments in ear scanning and CAD software, a broader audience of individuals and small enterprises can now produce ear tips. Even fully automated processes are available in several CAD systems to finish the process.
A cutting-edge desktop 3D printer designed for the medical industry is Form 3B. We remove the guesswork from audio creation with our accurate, dependable ecosystem, making it simple to achieve faster processes. The reduced peel forces generate enhanced accuracy and an incredibly smooth surface finish right off the build platform and into the patient’s ear by utilising the advantages of the Form 3B Low-Force Stereolithography Technology, which offers a unique triple value proposition: quality, throughput, and pricing, with a build platform that is more than three times the size of some rival 3D printers (14.5 14.5 18.5 cm) and costs less than half as much.
Providing your patients and clients with a custom-fit audio experience is now more inexpensive than ever thanks to 3D printing technology. From clinics looking to offer one-hour same-day in-clinic services, or labs looking to scale their business to allow production of up to 100 prints on a single machine per day, 3D printing evolves the digital audio workflow to the next generation.
Apply Lacquer To Custom Fit Earpiece
The pieces must go through Form Wash and Form Cure to remove excess resin and restore the material to its full characteristics after being removed from the construction platform. To make the Flexible 80A Resin safe to insert into the customer’s ear, the parts are finally lacquered.
Applying a lacquer is the last post-processing procedure. While other standard lacquer alternatives are available from Dreve and Detax. Check with the lacquer manufacturer to verify sure the substance satisfies your requirements for safety and biocompatibility .The earpiece is now prepared for delivery to the customer. A formal lengthy and complicated process is completed in just.
