Dental 3D Printer Review 2023 by the Institute of Digital Dentistry

The dental 3D printing market is blowing up. There hasn’t been this much interest and hype in an aspect of digital dentistry in a long time.

This 3D Printer Review is a collaboration with multiple leading digital dentistry clinicians here in Australia and New Zealand (read more about them at the end of this publication). This is based on our own experience with 3D printers in practice. Every single printer reviewed has been used by us extensively. 

Before starting, let us clarify what we base our evaluation on. Those familiar with our IOS reviews will understand our completely objective and brand agnostic comparison process. This is not a sponsored post. 

We have broken this 3D printer review into categories that you should focus on when purchasing a 3D printer for a clinic or lab, rather than a heap of technical specs that may confuse you.

Let us begin.

Dental 3D Printer Comparison Criteria

Print Speed

How fast does it print? Simple.

We have tested these printers to print everything, including models, splints/night guards, custom trays, dentures, and restorations. This criterion judges a printer on its print speed.

Print speed is mainly critical for those thinking of same-day workflows. Otherwise, it is an aspect that is often given too much emphasis. Print speed is not as critical if you are running your printer overnight etc, but regardless, how fast your device prints may be important to you.

Ease of Use

Ease of use judges a printer based on, logically, how easy the system is to use.

This is an overarching criterion on how easy it is to get your printer ready, software working, your print files sent and printed successfully. This encompasses everything from the unboxing and set-up to the software and user-friendliness of the system.

Ease of use may not be critical to labs, but it may be crucial for clinics considering delegating printing to their support staff.

In essence, how easy is it to print and process your file of choice.

Reliability       

This criteria judges a printer based on the number of failed prints we experienced.

Failed prints are one of the most annoying things that can happen while you are printing. There is nothing worse than running a printer for hours and then coming back to find nothing or remnants on the build plate.

This criterion takes into account the overall reliability of the system and software-generated supports etc. What we consider is during our testing process how often failed prints occurred.

Software

Software is critical in 3D printing (the other critical aspect is materials). Research has clearly shown that most 3D printers are accurate and can print well - this applies to the cheapest 3D printers all the way to the most expensive. They all can do the job.

What differentiates printers is access to resins and software. Some printer software is very basic and borderline confusing to use. Others offer streamlined workflows, complete cloud services and, in some instances, even AI design services. This criterion judges the printers based on how good their software is - both downloaded and on the cloud if applicable. 

Material Options and Availability

How many resins are available to the printer and more importantly, are these validated?

This criterion takes into account how 'open' a 3D printer is. The access to resins may be important to you if you want to be able to use it all. Or maybe you are just looking for a few gold-standard resins like KeySplint Soft.

The material options available is one of the most important considerations you should look into when buying a 3D printer.

Investment Cost

Another self-explanatory criterion. The cost of the printer and resins is taken into account here.

Least expensive to most expensive printers on the market.

Printer Technology

What is the type of 3D printer technology is being used to cure the photopolymer resins we are dealing with – LCD, DLP or SLA?

Read our blog article to learn more about how these 3D printing technologies differ or take our 3D Printing course bundle to get in-depth training.

Additional 3D Printer Criteria

Build Platform Size

How big is the build platform? This is quite an important consideration that is often overlooked.

This will be important for you based on your needs. Some build platforms can barely fit 2 models placed flat, while others can fit 10+. The build platform size is important for labs or clinics that require large print volumes, e.g. ortho facilities that will print hundreds of models per week.

Or you may only want a small printer to print the occasional night guard/splint and restorations - then a small build platform may be better for you - because these printers tend to be smaller.

Set-Up Difficulty

This criterion takes into account how easy is the printer to unbox and set-up, ready for printing.

Some printers are extremely easy to set up with well thought out tutorials and on-screen instructions. Others can be quite confusing. Moreover, others require a service technician to come in. Which one is it for your printer of choice.

Connectivity

This is important for you to think about when buying a 3D printer for your lab or clinic. 

How does the 3D printer connect with your 3D printing software. How do you send jobs to the printer?

Some printers only have a direct LAN connection option. This means it needs to be physically connected to the network to enable communication with a the computer with the 3D printer software installed.

Others have WI-FI available which is far more preferable. There are also some printers that enable plugging in a USB with required files directly into the printer. 

Depending on your needs and set-up, this is important to consider.

Cloud

Does the printer utilise a cloud service?

Most leading printers on the market have some form of cloud service available. This allows you to track your print metrics, check the status of your printer and even in some cases run print jobs remotely.

More over, some printers have fully fledged CAD design services either run by technicians or AI all on the cloud.

Open or Closed

Open printers can be use any resin on the market. 

Closed printers can only use resins that are validated by the company itself. This often includes third party resins. 

The degree of how 'closed' a printer is, varies quite a lot. Some printers are closed but the company has validated 30+ resins. Other printers are closed and only have a resin library of 7-12 resins.

Whether a printer is open or closed really only matters depending on what you want to print. For example, for splints, KeySplint Soft is usually desired. If you want to print splints you usually want to make sure your printer can use this material. However, for models, a printer being closed, doesn't really in reality. Every printer comes with decent enough model resin. Being open really only allows you to to access cheaper resins for this indication.

Heater

Internal heaters are built into the vast majority of printers but not all.

A heater is critical to warm the resin to the ideal temperature for use before printing. Each resin has a different ideal temperature and this is usually advised by the manufacturer and is validated in good printers.

Having the resin at the right temperature is vital for optimal performance and printing success.

If your printer does not have a heater inbuilt you may need to consider an external heater for your resins.

Washing and/or Curing machines

Does your printer come with a complete workflow from print to wash and cure?

Or is it just a printer and you have to buy third party devices to complete the job?

It is important to realize that not every printer company sells a wash and cure machine. Regardless of your printer of choice, for every print job you will need to ensure you have some method of washing the prints and then curing them. The entire workflow is important to consider.

So that is all the criteria we will be covering. Let's get in to the reviews in alphabetical order.

Ackuretta Dentiq Review

Print Speed

Not the fastest printer. This is now a relatively outdated printer superseded by the SOL which is 3 times faster. The Dentiq focused on reliability and accuracy at a cheaper price point. Still decent for those on a tight budget.

Ease of Use

A true plug and play printer, no messing about out of the box, it is ready to go from the moment you plug it into the wall. Alpha AI is an intuitive app that is very easy to use.

Reliability

Although not very fast in speed, in our experience it has been quite a reliable printer. It was relatively rare to have failed prints with this device when used properly. Perhaps the conservative nature of the engineering pays dividends.

One important thing to note is that the Dentiq lacks a Resin Tank/Vat heater. This means you may need to externally heat certain resins for consistent printing in cooler months. 

Software

Alpha AI is user friendly. Most doctors can pick it up without any formal training. It is constantly updated, new versions are always coming out with improved resin profiles. 

It does not currently have a any AI features / CAD like Sprintray nor the extensive cloud features like Formlabs. So above average printer software that does the job. 

Material Options and Availability

Ackuretta DENTIQ is a complete open system with 150+ pre-validated materials, working with all the big name resin manufacturers to validate the printing process. Everything Ackuretta recognises is also tested and proven, so we can rest assured that the correct process is adhered to. The R&D team is quite response, when new and exciting resins come out, the teams will be working hard to push it out as soon as it's ready.

Investment Cost

Around 4000 USD for the entire set-up.

At about half the cost of the SOL, for doctors who do not need the speed of the newer printer, the Dentiq is a good choice; or perhaps a good option as a second printer for someone who already owns the SOL.

Printer Technology

The Ackuretta DENTIQ uses a RGB LCD which has a lower energy output and also much shorter life span of only 800 hours vs the longer lasting monochromatic LCDs that last 10,000 hours like the SOL has.

The CURIE and CLEANI work very well. Recently the company also is going to soon release its CURIE Plus bundle for 4,500 USD. The special thing about this is the nitrogen generator curing unit. Super cool unit that actually generates nitrogen for printing from the air and thus does not need a nitrogen bottle.

Build Platform Size

Platform is good for 2-3 full arch models, or 3-4 splints angled. Comparable to other printers of this category.

Total volume:  120 x 68 x 140 mm
Build plate area: 8,160 mm2

Set-Up Difficulty

Very easy set up, minimal fuss, takes only minutes to get going. 

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB. Can connect via IP from a computer on the same network. The menu on the printer is looking a bit outdated, but it does not negatively affect the functionality significantly. 

Cloud

No cloud connectivity, unlikely to be introduced as development is happening on the newer model of printer - SOL.

Washing / Curing Machines

The CLEANI is a two stage washing unit, two tanks one for the dirty (first) wash and one for the clean (second) wash, with a mixer at the bottom that creates a vortex. It is a nice unit with a small footprint and size. 

CURIE is a fantastic curing unit, many users of other printer brands choose the CURIE due to its capability, speed of curing, efficiency and cost.

The Bottom Line

The Ackuretta Dentiq is a strong entry-level LCD printer for dental professionals. While on the slow side, it makes up for it with its ease of use and software that is generally user-friendly for beginners. Users who want better speed may opt for its more robust successor, the SOL. No resin heating functionality may be a concern for users in cooler climates or those who want to print ceramic-filled resins, which tend to print more reliably at a temperature range of 25-35°C.

Ackuretta SOL Review

Print Speed

Great speed. Not the fastest but good for a DLP printer. Not designed for maximum/reckless speed, the SOL combines reliability, accuracy and fast prints. Having pioneered the medium and small build plates which others have since copied it seems, the SOL gives doctors the option of smaller print platforms that can print quicker. 

Ease of Use

A true plug and play printer, no messing about out of the box, it is ready to go from the moment you plug it into the wall. Alpha AI is an intuitive app that is very easy to use like in the Dentiq.

Reliability

A decently reliable LCD printer. Over 2 years’ experience with the SOL, I have experienced less than 5% failure rate. All the failed prints can be put down as generally user error when pushing the limits of what’s possible or not following basic printing principles. However, in saying this, we are seeing a number of users complain of failed prints on FB user groups.

Like the Dentiq, also note that the SOL lacks a Resin Tank/Vat heater. This means you may need to externally heat certain resins for consistent printing in cooler months. 

Software

Alpha AI software that runs the SOL is user friendly. Most doctors can pick it up without any formal training. It is constantly being updated with new versions coming out with improved resin profiles. 

Material Options and Availability

Ackuretta SOL is a complete open system with 150+ pre-validated materials, working with all the big name resin manufacturers to validate the printing process. Like the Dentiq above, everything Ackuretta recognises is tested and proven. The R&D team is quick to add new resins to the platform when they are released.

Investment Cost

SOL + CLEANI + CURIE is around $8,000 USD.

Printer Technology

The Ackuretta SOL delivers accurate results with its 54 LEDs that perform at 95% light uniformity. Due to a higher power output. brighter stronger light of 5 mw/cm2 compared to the 1 mw/cm2 for the Dentiq, the SOL achieves three times the speed of a regular LCD printer. The dynamic LED auto-selects curing areas to enhance accuracy and extend the LCD panel's life.

The CURIE and CLEANI work very well. Recently the company also will soon release its CURIE Plus bundle. The special thing about this is the nitrogen generator curing unit - it actually generates nitrogen for printing from the air and thus does not need a nitrogen bottle.

Build Platform Size

Originally starting out with just one build platform at 128 x 80mm, Ackuretta then brought out a medium and small platform for the SOL.

The reason for this is with a smaller surface build platform you can get a faster print because less resin is displaced when the platform enters the vat + less resin needs to flow back into position for printing the next layer, allowing for a shorter wait time in between layers.

The medium build platform has a printing area of 70 x 70 mm which makes it ideal for single full arch applications to be printed flat in around 25 minutes. 

The small build platform has a printing area of 40 x 20 mm which is great for crowns, bridges and gingiva masks. It can fit 5-7 crowns or a couple of bridges which can be printed in as little as 15 minutes at a 70 micron layer thickness.

The large build platform is good for 2-3 full arch models, or 3-4 splints angled.

Total volume: 128 x 80 x 140 mm
Build plate area: 10,240 mm2

Set-Up Difficulty

Truly plug and play. Very easy set up, intuitive menu, my first SOL was up and running within 3 minutes of opening the box.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB. Can connect via IP from a computer on the same network. Like the Dentiq - plenty of options but more.

Cloud

Automatic Cloud Based Firmware Updates which makes it easier to get the latest validated settings available

Washing / Curing Machines

The CLEANI is a two stage washing unit. CURIE is a fantastic curing unit, many users of other printer brands choose the CURIE due to its capability, speed of curing, efficiency and cost.

The Bottom Line

The Ackuretta SOL is a great dental 3D printer for those users who want to benefit from a premium product, without the DLP price tag. While LCD printers tend to be slower than DLP printers, the SOL makes up for it with different sized build plates, meaning that restorations may be printed in as short as 15-25 minutes, depending on the print height and layer height.

Resin heating functionality is a curious omission in otherwise a great all-round 3D printing product. The Curie Plus on paper is a fantastic curing option, with many dental resins validated on in already. Combine that with the soon to be released NFinity nitrogen generating unit, which can generate nitrogen for curing items without the need of a nitrogen gas bottle, and you have a great end-to-end 3d printing system that will cater to many dental practices.

Asiga Max UV Review

Print Speed

The Asiga Max UV is one of the slower DLP printers yet remains a hugely popular choice in the dental market thanks to its huge resin library and incredible reliability. Its print speed is slower than other DLP printers but it is still a relatively fast printer when compared to SLA products. 

Study models positioned straight onto the build platform will take around 45-60 minutes to print for example. We have also noticed that the print time estimation in the software differs from the actual printing time - often being quite a lot longer in duration. This is due to every layer taking a slightly different time to print which directly correlates to the cross-sectional area of each layer. The larger the cross-sectional area, the longer the platform will take to reach position.

Of all the printers that are validated for professional dental use, the Asiga Max UV is overall above average in speed and achieves a great deal considering it is one of the most compact printers available.

Ease of Use

When using this printer it is simple to insert the build platform and exchanging resin vats is super quick and easy to do.

What is somewhat confusing are all the physical printer menus, settings and maintenance options (most of which will never be used), Also, the printer’s display screen is a little too small.

There is a bit of a learning curve to get started, having a lot of sensors and technology built into the printer means the user will need to take time to understand the correct setup process. If calibration and setup process is not done right, there can be issues in the printing process.

Asiga’s Software Composer is quite outdated and feels clunky compared to others. A new update is in the works.

Reliability

The Asiga Max UV is known to be an incredibly reliable and consistent printer. Once you get over the learning curve and software, the Max UV is capable of extremely accurate and precise prints.

It is no surprise the Asiga line of printers are hugely popular in dental labs all over the globe. This printer has sensors that can detect debris in the resin tank during printing, pausing the print and therefore reducing the risk of FEP damage and perforation.

Once setup correctly, the printer is an industry favourite and for good reason. In a high demand clinic, Asiga should be high on the list as a go-to printer for reliability.

Software

The Asiga Max UV uses the Composer Slicer which has been recently updated!

In previous iterations it was not easy to use this software for the untrained user. There was no specific dental functionality and the user interface was convoluted and clunky.

Thankfully in their latest update, the visual presentation has received a major overhaul and it is now substantially easier to use for novices. It is easier to position and orientate models and support them and go through the entire software process.

There is still quite a number of buttons compared to other user-friendly software, but it is a huge improvement and gets the job done. 

Material Options and Availability

The Asiga Max UV is a completely open printer and boasts the largest library of validated settings for third party resins. There are over 500 materials validated, and these are all available via Asiga’s Material Library online. 

You can find your material of choice and download the required settings to print it. The resin profiles are also constantly being updated to improve their performance.

This is one of the areas where the Asiga Max UV shines. It offers freedom to users all over the world. It is a relatively simple process to download your desired resin settings from their database. 

Most notably, Asiga is the only printer aside from the Primeprint that has access to the Lucitone Denture resins - considered widely as the best denture resins on the market. 

Investment Cost

The printer will cost you around $11,000 USD depending on your local distributor and region. This does not include a wash or cure, but does include unlimited lifetime technical support for free which is accessible via Asiga Customer Support Centre, online ticketing system, Asiga resellers and all Asiga offices (Australia, USA, Germany).

In addition, vats are consumables and will expire after a pre-determined volume of resin is printed with it, irrespective if the vat is still usable or not. 

Printer Technology

DLP - industrial-grade 385nm LED.

The major difference is Asiga’s layering technique starting with their SPS™ technology that provides platform positioning feedback ensuring the build platform is where it needs to be for every layer. This is the part that makes Asiga so special and guarantees Z height precision.

Internally within the projector is Asiga’s radiometer / light meter for automatic LED power adjustment - this provides real-time feedback and automatic cure time adjustment based on actual LED power resulting in precise layer curing for every layer. All these factors combined ensure a consistent and repeatable output.

The company has also recently released the Ultra Gloss resin trays which is a genius invention and results in super clear printing  - mainly used for splints. 

Build Platform Size

This printer is definitely more suited for chairside printing low volumes rather than a huge print operation, e.g. printing a couple of small items e.g. surgical guides, splints at any one time.

The platform can fit 2-3 full arch models flat on the print bed, or 3-4 splints angled. Comparable to other printers of this size and category.

Total volume: 119 × 67 × 75 mm
Build plate area: 7,973 mm2

Set-Up Difficulty

The Asiga Max UV is relatively straightforward to set up. Levelling is easy to perform and Asiga has easy to follow video tutorials on how to set the printer up on their Youtube channel.

However, the printer’s menu options can be a little frustrating to navigate through and we really wish the LCD screen was a bit larger.

You will require an account with Asiga prior to gaining access to your desired resin libraries. Updating the printer’s firmware is not straightforward. Overall, easy enough but it takes some time to properly learn the calibration and setup process.

Connectivity 

Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct, Ethernet. Wireless Direct is where the printer transmits its own Wifi signal allowing you to connect directly when an active Wifi network is not available.

Regardless of what you choose, the connection only needs to be operational during print transfer. 

Connecting the printer to the internet was a little inconsistent – at one location, it connected and operated smoothly, but at another, connection to the printer via the internet was slow and unreliable.

There is unfortunately no printing via USB but there is a cool feature - users can control the front panel of the printer from a remote connection.

Cloud

The Asiga Max UV does not utilise any cloud-based software or storage, but you can access the printer menu online.

Heater

It is there but not excellent. 

The on-board heater on the MAX UV can warm the build chamber to 10 degrees Celsius above ambient.  It is not essential to warm the resin but by warming the resin it reduces viscosity and permits faster printing.

With Asiga you do not need to wait for the printer to warm the resin.  You can print materials directly out of the fridge without issue. The only impact will be printing speeds.

Washing / Curing Machines

The Asiga Max UV is sometimes sold with an extremely simple and underwhelming curing unit. There is no washing unit manufactured by Asiga.

This is the Achilles’ heel of Asiga - no good washing and curing options to accompany the printer. Therefore, users are left to find their own solution from a 3^rd party company.

The Bottom Line

Despite its age, the Asiga Max UV is undoubtablely a great printer. It is in fact one of the most popular printers in labs and clinics across the globe for good reason - it's super reliability and has the most open system out of any printer. Asiga boasts a huge library of validated resins – the biggest in the market. On top of its reliability, it is a fan favourite. 

The printer as a whole is somewhat let down by software that isn’t as intuitive as other competitors and lacks any cloud features. It also lacks a complete workflow - no washing or curing unit. But we are told this is coming next year.

Dentafab Sega Review

Print Speed

If there is anything this printer does well, it’s speed. It is hands down one of the fastest dental 3D printer on the market. 

Temporary crowns can easily be printed at 100 micron layers within the 10-15 minute mark. Models can also be printed consistently at 100 micron layers in less than half an hour.

Depending on the print orientation, I have been able to perform an intraoral scan, design a splint chairside and support, print, wash and cure and issue it comfortably within a 60-90 minute window.

Ease of Use

The Dentafab Sega isn’t terribly hard to use – however it’s not the easiest printer either.

Levelling can be a bit of a chore. It is quite easy to slot vats in and out, although not as straightforward as some of its fellow DLP competitors.

Reliability

Over the testing period, in general few failures were encountered. Splints and temporary crowns seemed to fit well. I had no issues fitting crowns onto dies printed on the Dentafab Sega. Not 100% but definitely above average. 

Software

This is a tricky one.

The Sega is unique in the sense that the slicing is done internally in the printer itself. However, you will need to prepare whatever you want printed with supports and then export that as an STL, which is subsequently uploaded onto the printer via USB connection.

While Dentafab does have its own proprietary software, the manufacturer has actually recommended to support the prints using CHITUBOX first. CHITUBOX is relatively simple to use, but it’s certainly not dental-specific and does lack the shortcuts that other dental-specific slicing programs have.

The support settings tab can be certainly overwhelming for those who are completely new to 3D printing.

Material Options and Availability

The Dentafab Sega is completely open and the company has a significant list of many dental resins which have printer settings worked out for it. These can be uploaded onto your printer using Wi-Fi. 

You can even send your resins to Dentafab’s HQ where they will work out the print settings for you. They have a wide range of dental resins available through PowerResins their sister company which also makes OEM resins for other companies.

Investment Cost

While the printer itself is just as pricey as many of its other fellow dental DLP competitors, you can find it from $10,000 to $11,000  USD, the resin vats are substantially more affordable.

The ability to change the silicon lining in the vat is always good but it is a slow and slightly tricky process.

Overall the ongoing running costs of the Dentafab Sega are surprisingly low.

Printer Technology 

The Dentafab Sega is a DLP 3D printer with options to use 385nm / 405nm light source wavelength options.

Build Platform Size

The build platform is 120 mm x 68 mm.

This means it will fit 2-3 full arch models orientated direct to the print bed.

It is definitely more suited to printing 1 or 2 items at a time and nothing super high volume.

Set-Up Difficulty

Levelling the print bed is very annoying. While it’s very straightforward to do, it does require loosening 4 screws, followed by an additional 4 hexes.

It’s a far cry from other DLP printers which have much easier slot in systems. Once the build plate is loosened, levelling is no different to other consumer-grade printers – not a fast process, but straightforward to do.

Connectivity

I had no issues connecting the Dentafab Sega to the internet. It was a very simple process and I didn’t encounter any Wi-Fi connection issues. That being said, Wi-Fi connection is only for printer updates. 

In order to print, you will need the STL of the supported prints uploaded on a USB and inserted into the printer. Kind of a strange way to have to process your prints. 

Heater

The Dentafab Sega has an internal heater which works very well and very quickly, heating from room temperature to 30 degrees within 10 minutes of operation.

Washing / Curing Machines

Dentafab has generic washing and curing units for sale which are optional purchases but not hugely promoted. These are an OEM of the CURIE and CLEANI by Ackuretta, therefore, they work well as we described in the SOL and DENTIQ review. 

The Bottom Line

If there’s such a thing as a one-trick pony when it comes to dental-specific 3D printers, the Dentafab Sega is pretty close to being it.

While it does lack some of the polish and finer quality of life features that are part and parcel of more popular DLP printers on the market, where it excels is in its printing speed and completely open nature.

If you plan on printing same-day or even same-appointment restorations, there are very few options out there on the market that can come close to this speed demon.

Dentsply Sirona Primeprint Review

Print Speed

The Primeprint is not a slow printer but it is also not the fastest by any stretch. Typical models will take around 45 minutes to print and overall is it above average in print speed. It is slowed down by the mechanical arm that is involved in a lot of the automation of the printer.

Ease of Use

Primeprint’s ease of use is an interesting one.

On one hand, the company offers one of the most clinical workflows on the entire market. Printing itself, washing etc can be easily delegated to the team thanks to the Primeprint box concept and automated technology.

On the other hand you need to use inLab to send any prints to the printer, which quite frankly is a little clunky. It is a lab software and even importing STLs involves a few steps rather than dragging and dropping into a printer software like most other devices.

The software is nowhere near as easy to use as other printers on the market, but once you get going everything is done for you by the automated system. You can literally put the boxes into the printer and walk away, including the post-processing.

Reliability

Over the testing period, we did experience a couple of failures with the Primeprint system, in particular with the model resins. These happened at the start of usage and then with troubleshooting improved significantly. This was not major and overall it was a smooth experience. 

The system as a whole is quite rigid and this is a by-product of everything being highly intelligent and automated. You don’t simply pour resins into a tray, rather the system keeps a record of this every print. This on one hand is great for cleanliness and minimising resin contact, but on the other hand if you have a failed print, cleaning the vats is a nuisance.

Software

As mentioned above, software is a big strength and somewhat a weakness of the Primeprint system.

The Primeprint is actually bundled with inLab not some new stand-alone printer software. On one hand, it is a good lab software you are getting and enables you to do a lot of non-printer related things, such using CEREC mills with third-party scanners + design a host of appliances etc.

On the other hand, it is a lab software - these are not the easiest to use and inLab can feel clunky. Dentsply Sirona may have been better creating a separate printer software for Primeprint - minimising menus and allowing the user to quickly import a desired print and add supports all on one screen.  

In saying that, Dentsply Sirona's focus is their new cloud system - DS Core. So it looks like everything is going to the cloud with time anyway.

Material Options and Availability

Primeprint is a closed system meaning that you can only use the Primeprint cartridges with this printer. This is a limitation of the printer.

There are only a limited number of resin options but the company does say they will be releasing more in the future.

Currently you have access to a single resin for each of the standard options – model, surgical guide, temp crown, custom tray etc. Most notably - Lucitone denture resin is the stand out feature of this system. 

If you want to use the widely popular Keysplint Soft, you cannot do so with the Primeprint.

Investment Cost

The entire Primeprint system is sold with the Primeprint PPU (wash and cure) and it is approximately 40,000 USD. This makes the entire system the most expensive 3D printing set-up on the market. 

It does come with inLab software in Australia and New Zealand.

Printer Technology 

DLP Technology.

385 nm, 2K (1920 x 1080) pixels projector resolution.

Build Platform Size

The build platform at best will first 2-3 full arch models orientated direct to the print bed. 

The software itself does not allow you to print direct on the build platform but rather you have to use a raft with every print. Again, this is the rigidness of the system. 

Total volume: 134 x 76 x 150  mm

Build plate area: 10,184 mm2

Set-Up Difficulty

Set-up of the Primeprint can only be carried out by a Dentsply Sirona technician. Although the footprint itself of the Primeprint and PPU is similar to other systems, this is a far larger (vertically) and heavier printer. 

This is sophisticated equipment and there is no way someone could be able to do an unboxing alone. 

Connectivity

Primeprint uses USB or a network  LAN connection via RJ45.

The technician will set everything up and the Primeprint will not work unless it recognises the computer with the software installed on the same network. 

Cloud

No cloud software currently.

Keep an eye out on the DS Core and Create which seems to be the future for Dentsply Sirona.

Heater

The Primeprint has an internal heater that works well.

Before any print the system heats up to the appropriate temperature for that specific resin. This can take anywhere between 15-20 minutes depending on the resin. It is a little on the slow side but not bad.

Washing / Curing Machines

The Primeprint PPU is the most sophisticated wash and cure machine on the market. It is completely automated and is an impressive feature of the system.

You simply inserted the Primeprint box into the PPU and it will do the rest including 2 washes, cure and dry. Printed objects come out completely clean and ready to use. The PPU works very well. 

It does take some time however and the company will likely need to make this entire process more efficient if they want Primeprint to be considered for single-visit dentistry - which does not really seem like the purpose for this printer given the company also sells CEREC.

The Bottom Line

The Primeprint is an interesting offering. It provides the user with arguably the most automated system on the entire market and likely nothing will come close to how little the dentist/team has to do physically to get a printed product ready for use. This can be easily delegated to your staff.

The prints are generally high quality and for the most part it is reliable. However, the downsides are the cost. By far the most expensive on the market and it seems to fit a practice with a Dentsply Sirona ecosystem more than anything. 

FormLabs 3B+ Review

Print Speed

The Formlabs 3B+ is based on SLA technology which is slower on average than its DLP or LCD counter parts. It is not the slowest printer on the market but it is nowhere near being the fastest. Standard models will take around 60-90 minutes to print with the Formlabs 3B+. Because of how SLA technology works, printing multiple models is not as fast as LCD or DLP either.

The company does combat this with faster to print draft resins and larger layer thicknesses. Tinkering with all of this you can get models printing in around 30-45 min. But this is only for models.

When it comes to crowns and other indications it is also not the fastest. A single crown takes about 50-60 minutes to print for example.

Ease of Use

The FormLabs 3B+ is an excellent printer in terms of ease of use and is one of the easiest printers to delegate to staff. The setup up process is a breeze and can easily be done by anyone on the team without a technician.

The software itself and menus are all very clear, intuitive and easy to understand. The printer warns you if the wrong resin for the job is added and it is generally an extremely user-friendly system.

The resin tray system has a wiper to always keep the resin mixed and auto-filling resin cartridges make it one of the most easy printers to operate.

Reliability

Another one of those super-reliable printers on the market. The Formlabs 3B+ just works. It may not be the fastest but failed prints are rare using this printer. The printer software works well and supports are generated intelligently by the AI where required. The printer is very enjoyable to use.

Software

PreForm by Formlabs is one of the best printer software on the market in terms of ease of use.

It is slick, easy to use, intuitive and makes printing a breeze. The company has also released a dental version of the software which makes the entire workflow even better.

We hardly ever had any issues with printing and that’s thanks to the software. It even has a one-click print function in which any design will be orientated, placed on supports and ready to print in a single click. Furthermore the software has a great cloud system and printer management interface online.

The only thing it is missing is an AI or CAD design feature.

Material Options and Availability

This is the Achilles' Heel of the Formlabs printers.

Being a closed system there are a limited number of resins available for you to use. Most notable you cannot use KeySplint Soft or many other popular third party resins. In saying that, the company are aware of this and have released a new soft splint material for example, so they are trying to stay competitive. 

When considering Formlabs resins, they are incredibly reliable but are not market disrupters. The model resin works well but looks a bit off in terms of translucency. The crown resins are made by BEGO which are quite dated these days and don’t look the best.

Investment Cost

This is one of the strongest aspect of the Formlabs 3B+ system. The cost is incredibly attractive.

At around 10k USD you can buy an entire Formlabs 3B+ system which is an excellent entry point for those looking at printing.  

Printer Technology

Low Force Stereolithography - helping minimise failed prints. 

The optics engine uses one Light Processing Unit using a 250 mW laser power and a 25 micron XY resolution.

Build Platform Size

The build platform is large. Great for printing multiple models. You can easily fit around 8 models on this platform laid flat. You are spoilt for space when printing dental prosthetics such as splints, guides and restorations on the Form 3B+,

There are no smaller build platforms for example for crowns etc.

The company has innovated in the build platform space - the new easy to release - Build Platform 2. This enables easy release of all printed products by using a propriety flexing build platform. This makes printing and removing multiple models a breeze.

Total volume: 145 × 145 × 185 mm
Build plate area: 21,025 mm2

Set-Up Difficulty

Levelling the print bed itself is easy with smart and intuitive in screen instructions and included tools.

The entire unboxing process is enjoyable and easy to do for anyone. Turn the printing on and follow the on-screen prompts.

There is also a range of different tutorials and help online.

Connectivity

Direct connection, ethernet, LAN or WIFI. All work well. Easy to connect to clinic Wi-Fi and get the printer going.

Cloud

Cloud service works very well. You can start prints completely remotely. The interface is great and printer statistics are a nice addition. With the new Form Auto Feature, you can set up an entire automated production facility. This will be useful for high volume printing - e.g. ortho labs/clinics.

Heater

Internal heater present in the printer. It works well. All resins are automatically heated to optimal temperature based on the resin chosen before starting the print job.

The printer can also be ‘primed’ before a print job is sent which basically heats the resin and gets everything ready for immediate printing.

Washing / Curing Machines

The Formlabs 3B+ comes with a complete system.

The washing units come in 2 varieties - what is basically two plastic containers for manual cleaning of print products. This is a budget option. Or a automatically agitating wash unit with timers built in for close to automated washing of print products, called the Form Wash.

The curing unit also has 2 varieties - Form Cure, older slower unit and the Fast Cure - much faster unit. The Form Cure is quite a slow machine which takes anywhere between 30-60 min curing time. The Fast Cure is much faster, cutting this down to 2-6 minutes for all dental indications.

Entire workflow is validated.

The Bottom Line

The Formlabs 3B+ is not the fastest printer on the market and in fact its use for same-day dentistry is tricky to argue. It is however one of the most reliable and easy to use printers available.

Where this printer excels is its great economic value. Formlabs printers were widely popular because of this and were adopted quite a lot early in dental printing. 

Given the resin limitations, it is usually best for clinics/labs who want an easy to use and delegate printer for things like models and surgical guides. It is a great printer for novices and the company is working hard to release new validated resins.

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