Announcing the new

LED Curebox

Now there's a faster, easier way to make flexural testing specimens of light-cured restoratives using Proto-tech's new LED Curebox..

Curing composite specimens with a hand-held unit can be time consuming and imprecise. Ordinary light-curing ovens are large, expensive, and can actually provide low curing energy to the specimen. But now the same LED technology that is being widely adopted in the clinic can also make biomaterials research faster and easier.

Our LED Curebox uses an array of super-bright blue LED's to custom-cure light-cured composite in a transparent mold by directing 3600mW of curing power at the specimen. The composite is first injected into a length of Vitrocom glass square tubing with a 2x2mm inside dimension. The tubing is then placed in the Curebox, which is started with the press of a button. The Curebox has an adjustable timer built in, so that it turns off automatically. The Curebox also has an adjustable power level, so that you can control the intensity of the light. After the light exposure the cured specimen is then easily pushed out of the tube, which can be reused. The finished bars are fully, evenly cured, having excellent tolerances and surface finish.

The LED Curebox is compact, easy to use, and powerful. We made a comparison of flexural modulus values of a typical composite using bars cured with a handheld unit and bars made with the LED specimen oven. The LED-cured specimens received 40 sec in the Curebox, while the handheld-cured specimens received five overlapping exposures of 20 sec each on two sides, requiring 200 sec to complete. The LED-cured specimens had the same flexural stiffness and strength as the handheld-cured specimens. And they had a lower standard deviation, reflecting the more even and consistant illumination they received from the LED curebox. For more information about the technique, read our answers to frequently asked questions here .

Having the LED Curebox in your lab can make flexural testing easier, faster, and more reliable. An introductory package includes the LED Curebox and power supply, and a stock of 2mm glass tubing. The price is $950 U.S.. For international orders, please indicate electrical outlet style and line voltage when ordering. Price does not include shipping. Allow four weeks for delivery.

The LED Curebox curing a flexural specimen in a length of glass tubing.

We can custom build your Curebox to accommodate special specimen sizes; please contact us.

Proto-tech                                  Ph: (971) 344-3730
15571 SE Oatfield Rd               Fax:(503) 786-0842
Portland, OR 97267                  Email: info@oralwear.com 

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