Stratasys and 3Shape announce new automated 3D printing colour workflow

Stratasys Ltd. and 3Shape announced a new automated 3D printing colour workflow that allows dental labs to print large mixed batches of dental parts.

Using 3Shape’s Dental System software and the Stratasys J5 DentaJet™ 3D printer, this new workflow enables dental professionals to scale production by printing a mixed selection of sizeable dental parts, including implant models, surgical guides and gingiva masks – at the same time on the same tray.

3D printing workflow for accurate tooth colour matching

Dental labs are able to capture both colour and geometric information of the patient’s mouth using an intraoral scanner and 3Shape’s software. Stratasys 3D printer users can import the data and print extremely accurate personalized full-colour dental models.

“In dentistry, detailed attention to aesthetics is critical, but accurately matching tooth colour in particular is tricky and time-consuming,” said Rune Fisker, 3Shape Senior Vice President for Product Strategy, in a press release.

“For the first time, we’re automating that entire workflow for customers using 3Shape and the J5 DentaJet printer. Dental labs will be able to easily harness the full capabilities of the only dental printer able to create highly realistic replicas of the patient’s mouth from a TRIOS scan.”

Full-colour printing capabilities

According to the press release, the new digital workflow enables users to fully leverage full-colour printing capabilities – including realistic monolithic full-colour dental parts – using PolyJet™ technology, which is said to ensures geometric accuracy and precision for printed dental applications.

The latest software version (2022.1) of the 3Shape Dental System includes support for the open 3MF file standard, capturing both geometry and colour information from the intraoral scans.

 “The darker color of a tooth stump and the translucency of a crown make color matching with the rest of a patient’s teeth a real challenge,” said Ron Ellenbogen, Stratasys Director of Dental Products.

“Adding 3MF support into 3Shape Dental System lets our customer harness the color capabilities of Stratasys PolyJet 3D printers to easily match a restoration’s true color. This new turnkey color workflow is an important step in expanding the color applications available on the J5 DentaJet platform.”

Open-source 3D printing

3MF is an open-source file format published by the 3MF Consortium, of which Stratasys is a leading member. The format includes all model information in one package, including the voxel level control of the interior and metadata of the model. Stratasys is the only company providing a PANTONE-Validated™ full colour, multi-material 3D printer that can take full advantage of the 3MF format’s capabilities, said the press release.

Click here for more information on the full-colour, multi-material printing workflow using the Stratasys J5 DentaJet.