Sun Dental Labs links 3D Systems, 3Shape technologies for CAD/CAM model production solution

With high quality 3D printing more accessible than ever, digital model production makes a lot of sense, and Florida-based Sun Dental Labs is putting such a solution into action by combining 3D printing technology from 3D Systems with the digital scanning and design systems from 3Shape.

Using a ProJet MP 3500 printer from 3D Systems along with 3Shape's Dental System and CAMbridge software applications, the lab has put together a system designed for fast, accurate and economical model production. The models are printed from a material with physical properties similar to plaster at a cost of approximately $5 per full quad model.

The digital model production system is capable of producing models from scanner impressions, scanned models which were produced at the dental clinic or from digital impression systems, including 3Shape's TRIOS which is expected to be available in the US later this year. The digital model production follows Sun Dental Labs' shift toward digital workflows.

For details on the TRIOS system listen to this audio interview from the CDA meeting this past spring:

Read the full press release below:

ROCK HILL, S.C., July 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) announced today that it successfully completed the integration of its new ProJet(TM) MP 3500 Dental 3D Printers with 3Shape's Dental System(TM) and CAMbridge for direct, high speed, precision model production from the 3Shape Trios(R) intraoral scanner.

Sun Dental Labs successfully deployed this integrated solution to produce up to 24 quad cases in 5 1/2 hours. Chuck Stapleton, Vice President of Digital Manufacturing at Sun, said, "The ProJet™ MP produces full quad cases of plaster-like models for about $5 and enables Sun to produce any type of restoration from our customer's stone model scanner or intraoral scanner. The combined impact of this solution's precision, affordability and plaster-like characteristics compel us to step up our transition to a full digital work flow."

"We are very pleased to offer our dental lab customers a proven, integrated solution that combines the latest products from two leading providers into a powerful and affordable manufacturing tool," said Lee Dockstader, VP Business Development, 3D Systems Corporation. For complete product information on the ProJet™ 3500 MP and DP dental printers visit toptobottomdental.com.

About 3D Systems Corporation

3D Systems is a leading provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including 3D printers, print materials and on-demand custom parts services for professionals and consumers alike. The company also provides creative content development, design productivity tools and curation services and downloads. Its expertly integrated solutions replace, displace and complement traditional methods and reduce the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used to rapidly design,communicate, prototype and produce functional parts, empowering its customers to create with confidence. More information on the company is available at www.3DSystems.com.

About 3Shape

3Shape is a Danish company specializing in the development and marketing of 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions designed for the creation, processing, analysis and management of high-quality 3D data for applications in complex manufacturing processes. 3Shape envisions the age of the "full digital dental lab," and its more than 130 developers provide superior innovation power toward reaching this goal. 3Shape's flexible solutions empower dental professionals through automation of real workflows, and its systems are applied in thousands of labs in more than 85 countries worldwide, putting 3Shape technologies at the peak of the market in relation to units produced per day by dental technicians. 3Shape boosts its first-line distributor support network with a second-line support force of over 30 in-house experts in 5 support and service centers strategically placed around the globe. 3Shape is a privately-held company headquartered in Copenhagen, with the market's largest team dedicated to scanner and software development for the dental segment based in Denmark and Ukraine, a production facility in Poland, and Sales and Support Offices in New Jersey, USA and Asia. For further information regarding 3Shape, please refer to www.3shapedental.com.