For example, a 4K DLP printer operates with a screen that has a 4K resolution. This allows it to finely direct the light for curing. A simple rule to remember is: the higher the resolution, the more precise the printing can be, whether it is an LED or an LCD printer.
3D dental printers: Technology comparison and explanations.
If you are interested in purchasing a 3D printer for your dental laboratory but are not familiar with the technical processes, you may quickly feel overwhelmed. For example, how does an LED-UV printer differ from an LCD printer or a 4K-DLP printer? What is additive manufacturing all about? We help shed light on these questions through a comparison of 3D dental printer technologies, providing easily understandable explanations. Our focus is specifically on 3D printers for the dental field to prevent this text from becoming too extensive.
3D dental printer technology comparison: SLA or DLP?
3D printers fundamentally operate on the principle of additive manufacturing. New layers are always added to the existing ones. Imagine you are crafting a bowl out of clay, slowly building it up from the bottom with new rings. Printers used in the dental field commonly employ two closely related technologies: Stereolithography (SLA), developed in 1984, and its derivative Digital Light Processing (DLP).
The difference lies in how the resin as a material is cured layer by layer - in your case, this would be the task of the burner. In SLA, a laser is used, which can work with a layer thickness of 0.05 to 0.01mm. DLP printers use a projector that originally projected light onto adjustable mirrors. These directed it to the desired location, where it cured the layers. Nowadays, instead of mirrors, LCD or LED screens are often used. These significantly reduce the cost of the printers. Additionally, since DLP printers can work even finer than SLA machines, they are preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 3D dental printer technology comparison.
When you read designations like LED-UV printer, you already suspect that there are models with this light source that are special. Devices that work with ultraviolet (UV) light are able to post-cure resins. The product never comes out completely cured from the printer. Post-curing eliminates this problem. In the dental laboratory, this can be particularly important, for example, in model making, as they must not be soft.
Choose a 3D printer for your dental laboratory or dental practice now and help your patients even more effectively.
As you can see, understanding technology is actually not difficult. DLP devices are never wrong. High resolution is also almost always a smart choice - unless you work very specialized with simple products. Printers with UV also make sense for dental laboratories in general. However, it really depends on the individual case - we are happy to advise you.