Origin Milling Machine

December 30, 2009

Spent yesterday with the folks from B&D Dental going over the CAM software to run the Origin ProDuo 5000 – a Wet/Dry system featuring 5-axis milling. I’m pretty jacked about the possibilities.

First, we will be able to bring our zirconia coping production in-house at significant cost savings, a significant portion of which we plan on passing along to our clients. Of course, this new capability also extends to the milling of full contour zirconia crowns, which is becoming more and more popular everyday.

Second, because the 5000 can handle alloys – Titanium (Grade 5) and Chrome Cobalt (Predominantly-base or “Non-Precious”) – we expect to begin offering PFMs featuring milled copings and frameworks in the very near future (I want to get thoroughly acquainted with the TriCeram veneering ceramic before we go into production). I also see the possibility of offering Titanium “Full Milled” Crowns, as an alternative to our fullcast restorations. The ADA classifies Titanium between Noble and High Noble alloys, and many of the top dental insurance programs recompense for Ti restorations at a higher rate than those cast  with noble alloys.

Lastly, the 5000 features an innovative jig which holds up to eight e.Max CAD blocks or Vitablocs. We’ve milled these materials in the past using our Cerec InLab machine, but I was never satisfied with the results. Although the 5000 is significantly slower than the InLab when it comes to milling these materials (appx. 25m versus 12m) I believe the improved accuracy of the final mills will be worth the wait.

Give me a couple of days to get everything in order, and I will start posting reviews and pics of our results. Until then – Happy New Year!

© 2009, Jeff Saylors. All rights reserved.