How do electric toothbrushes work?

[Muse]

I figure I understand how they charge (induction), but how do they work up that high cycle vibration? Is there some kind of motor in there? I've never seen a way to get into my old Sonicare. Some how it keeps on tickin'. My dentist suggested a new one, that the old one had lost some of its oomph, but I don't believe it.

 

[sohcrates]

regular mechanical ones: cam and gear unit convert spinning motion of motor into reciprocating brushing motion

sonic care toothbrushes: vibrate entire head. i assume they work on magic

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: sohcrates
regular mechanical ones: cam and gear unit convert spinning motion of motor into reciprocating brushing motion

sonic care toothbrushes: vibrate entire head. i assume they work on magic

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA. I came into this thread to post something sarcastic, and instead laughed my ass off at your reply!

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: sohcrates
regular mechanical ones: cam and gear unit convert spinning motion of motor into reciprocating brushing motion

sonic care toothbrushes: vibrate entire head. i assume they work on black magic

fixed

 

[Mxylplyx]

You turn it on, and it goes bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Put that in your mouth and swish it around some.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
You turn it on, and it goes bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Put that in your mouth and swish it around some.

Not How do you use them?

How do they work?!

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Muse
I figure I understand how they charge (induction), but how do they work up that high cycle vibration? Is there some kind of motor in there? I've never seen a way to get into my old Sonicare. Some how it keeps on tickin'. My dentist suggested a new one, that the old one had lost some of its oomph, but I don't believe it.

Believe it. We got 2 wands with our Sonicare and just used one of them for a year or 2. Then we started to use both and just swap them in and out of the charger with me using the one we had been using while my wife used the "new" one. About 6 months ago mine got to where it would not keep enough of a charge to run through a full cycle so now we are both using the newer one. There was a very noticable difference in how much oomph it had compared to the one I was using that died.

 

[TheKub]

They use electro magnets to move the head.

 

[CptObvious]

One of the patents for Sonicare: Text

 

[everman]

There's a little green imp inside sonicares, same kind that makes your cell phone work but just wasn't quite smart enough for phone duty so it got that job.

 

[johnjbruin]

Its magnets.
Look at the brush head.
Alternate the current at a certain frequency to get vibration effect.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
You turn it on, and it goes bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Put that in your mouth and swish it around some.

Not How do you use them?

How do they work?!

Electricity

\thread

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
You turn it on, and it goes bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Put that in your mouth and swish it around some.

You forgot the tooth paste.

 

[mrrman]

they have a motor inside...Ive seen the guts at the factory before they are sonic welded together

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: TheKub
They use electro magnets to move the head.

Now that makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: everman
There's a little green imp inside sonicares, same kind that makes your cell phone work but just wasn't quite smart enough for phone duty so it got that job.

Yeah, and you're the head of HR at HP...

And the tooth fairy is 2nd in command.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
Its magnets.
Look at the brush head.
Alternate the current at a certain frequency to get vibration effect.

Exactly. There's two very powerful magnets at the bottom of the brush head. In fact, every time I start using a new brush head I retrieve the magnets from the old one and glue each to a tiny cube of wood and paint them to produce fab fridge magnets. EM fields cause those magnets to stutter and result in the brush action. /thread

 

[ArJuN]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Muse
I figure I understand how they charge (induction), but how do they work up that high cycle vibration? Is there some kind of motor in there? I've never seen a way to get into my old Sonicare. Some how it keeps on tickin'. My dentist suggested a new one, that the old one had lost some of its oomph, but I don't believe it.

Believe it. We got 2 wands with our Sonicare and just used one of them for a year or 2. Then we started to use both and just swap them in and out of the charger with me using the one we had been using while my wife used the "new" one. About 6 months ago mine got to where it would not keep enough of a charge to run through a full cycle so now we are both using the newer one. There was a very noticable difference in how much oomph it had compared to the one I was using that died.

You both use the same toothbrush...? :disgust: