B&D Origin Milling – Zirconia works!

January 10, 2010

I spent Friday morning scanning, designing and milling four zirconia copings using our new Origin Pro Duo 5000 milling machine. Have to say, I’m pretty pleased.

I scanned the cases as anatomical copings using our 3Shape software. This entails scanning the working model, opposing model and die, as well as a “bite scan” with the two models articulated. After scanning, a full contour proposal is provided, and after a little tweaking of the contacts and occlusion, the software performs an automated cutback of the full contour proposal – I used a cutback of 1.0mm and a minimum coping thickness of 0.4mm to provide a nice combination of minimal coping thickness and support for the veneering ceramic.

I then loaded the coping files into the B&D CAM software. The Pro Duo uses material pucks, and the CAM software is used to orient the copings in the puck to minimize material waste. Its a pretty intuitive program. One feature allows you to select portions of each coping to be milled using a small 0.6mm bur – this allows us to mill the margins to very exacting tolerances and minimizes the hand finishing of the sintered copings.

All four copings fit very well. There was practically no finishing of the internal surfaces, and only a quick once-over-lightly of the margins. They are ready to stack!

We also scanned and remitted the copings to our Lava milling center. Hope to have pictures tomorrow…

© 2010, Jeff Saylors. All rights reserved.