Dental software automates machining of caps and bridges

Developed by Delcam's sales partner in Sweden, Protech, Dentmill is a stand-alone program based on Delcam's PowerMill CAM system that provides a knowledge-based machining process for ceramic and titanium caps, bridges and implant bridges. The software can accept geometry from dental design software or from dental 3D scanners in most point cloud and triangulated data formats.

The Dentmill process begins by splitting the model into the areas to be machined from above and from below the parting line. The user then specifies the positions for the pins to hold the part during machining. Software shading provides a warning if the pin positions will lead to any machining of undercuts. The positions can then be adjusted to eliminate the problem.

Once the correct orientation has been set, toolpaths can be generated automatically for the appropriate type of part and material. As with all PowerMILL programs, the results are thoroughly checked to prevent gouges or collisions, and will run on virtually all CNC milling machines, including specialist equipment for the dental industry.

"The use of CNC machining is growing rapidly in the dental industry," says Hugh Humphreys, Delcam's Managing Director. "Dentmill has already proven to give excellent results in some large dental companies in Scandinavia and we are sure the program will enjoy equal success with the dental industry in other regions."