CADSPEED uses TRUMPF metal 3D printer to speed up dental manufacturing

A CNC digital milling centre in Germany has reported how the recent expansion of its in-house metal 3D printing capabilities is improving the manufacture of dentures. CADSPEED, based in Hanover, is using the TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 in place of conventional and time-consuming casting and milling techniques to deliver higher productivity, improved quality and less material waste. While traditional methods can typically take around 20 minutes to produce one tooth, the new metal system combined with intra-oral scanning, means the centre is able to produce up to 70 teeth in every two to three-hour cycle – roughly less than three minutes per tooth. CADSPEED owner Hindrik Dehnbostel says when operating at full capacity, 3D printing really comes into its own and has been running the TruPrint 1000 in a three-shift mode, five days a week. The TruPrint 1000 is the machine tool manufacturer's most compact laser metal fusion system and comes equipped with two lasers which are said to enable the production of dental devices up to ten times faster than conventional milling machines. However, the system can actually be connected to other milling machines so that operators can produce mount supported dentures which replace both the visible tooth and anchor.