Gator Dental Arts redefines dental production with the DMP Flex 200 3D printer

Using 3D Systems’ DMP Flex 200 printer, the laboratory manufactures removable partial denture frameworks from cobalt–chromium alloys by means of metal 3D printing. The system is also suitable for other dental applications, including crowns, bridges and implant bars. According to 3D Systems, the printer offers high precision and repeatability, is supported by 3DXpert software for part set-up and production and uses LaserForm materials with certified parameters. It also delivers an Ra surface roughness of up to 5 μm.

“We originally created our own metal frameworks using traditional casting,” said Benjamen Hart, co-founder and laboratory technician at Gator Dental Arts. “We moved into castable 3D-printed patterns, and then we went to direct metal printing, and it just took over our process. We have doubled production with the DMP Flex 200,” he added.

Improved workflows and productivity

While the company uses multiple 3D-printing solutions for its various services, the DMP Flex 200 has had a notable effect on Gator Dental Arts’ workflow, according to Hart. “This metal 3D printer totally streamlined what we do. As soon as you take away investment casting and go digital, it removes the guesswork and expansion and contraction issues, and our workflow goes from digital design to finished metal product in just five days,” he emphasised.