Vat Photopolymerization has provided a major boost to the medical field, particularly that of dentistry. However, there are many technologies and 3D printers within this 3D printing method and they can vary in production speeds and build volume. One of the fastest forms of producing surgical guides and other crucial patient-care tools is DLP. Using the latest in DLP technology, SprintRay’s Pro system can produce surgical guides in 10 to 15 minutes and dental models in 15 to 30 minutes.
Professional dental 3D printing technologies have been amping up production speeds since their inception. Resin-based 3D printers provide fast and simple solutions to the needs of doctors and clinicians in providing better patient care worldwide. However, producing FDA-compliant surgical guides and medical tools with rapid turnaround times can still be a challenge.
Aside from the speed and accuracy the SprintRay Pro offers, there are a few other perks as well. Using 3rd party CAD/CAM treatment-planning software, doctors can customize the guides with minimal material wastage. They can also insert surgical drill sleeves into the design for added accuracy. Similarly, SprintRay’s Surgical Guide material can be sterilized using standard autoclave protocols without affecting its dimensional accuracy.
SprintRay estimates that it will only cost $1 per guide with their system. They recommend a layer thickness of 50 or 100 microns, so the guides are fairly accurate. Their proprietary software also helps ensure that there are no flaws in the digital 3D model and will attempt to fix them automatically. The models will, however, require post-processing in the form of drying, support removal and post-curing.
Comparing Speeds in Dental AM Technologies
In a new video, SprintRay illustrates the capabilities of its DLP system in comparison to other technologies within the realm of Vat Polymerization.
The overall test compares 2 main categories of speed and production. The first was a full-platform speed test for full-arch dental models. As a comparison, it looks at how quickly the printers use up their entire build volume for batches of dental arches. The Pro ends up producing the batch in 26 minutes, with the the LCD printer settling at 47 minutes and the SLA printer coming in at 268 minutes. Aside from the curing speeds, this rate of production is also aided the SprintRay Pro’s build volume being larger than these other printers. The second part of the test measures the max throughput. Here they measure how many flat full-arch models each printer can create, with the SprintRay Pro managing a production of 18 models per hour. In comparison, the LCD printer manages 5 and the SLA printer 2.
The SprintRay Pro’s speed and production capabilities were built off of the pre-existing Moonray system. It expands on the previous systems build volume, making it twice that of its predecessor with 60% more capacity. It provides higher speeds and sports 60% greater tank capacity as well (ensuring resin won’t run out too easily). As a digital dentistry solution, it has a lot to offer on all these fronts.
Featured image courtesy of SprintRay.
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