Tiếng Việt
Dental metal 3D printers: metal 3D printers are used for complex products made in small batches.
What are metal 3D printers used for?
Metal 3D printers are used to make products in small quantities or with complex geometry.
What materials does metal 3D printing use?
Ultra-fine metal powders: A wide range of metal 3D printing materials: Stainless steel, high temperature nickel base alloy, maraging steel, titanium alloy, cobalt chromium alloy, aluminum alloy, high strength steel, copper alloy, tungsten alloy.
What can a dental metal 3D printer do?
Besides mechanical engineering and manufacturing, metal 3D printers are widely used in dental 3D printing. They shorten production time:- Faster and cheaper than 5-axis CNC.
- Much cheaper than sending work abroad to be made on dental metal 3D printers.
Concerns about metal 3D printers.
The main danger of 3D printers is weapons production. But with current government controls, there are surely strong enough measures to fully control this issue in Vietnam.
3D data for guns is available online.
3D printed guns at a European weapons institute
Contact Nguyen Van Cuong at 0975.008.728 for advice.
Our metal 3D printers:
- Metal 3D printer EpM250.
- The most affordable metal 3D printer available today, EpM100T.
Contact CT3D Group
CT3D Group – professional 3D printing, 3D scanning, design and rapid prototyping services nationwide.
- CT3D Thu Duc – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong: in3d.edu.vn – Hotline 0975 008 728 (Mr. Thai)
- CT3D District 6 – Ho Chi Minh City: 3dmaker.vn – Hotline 038 7798308 (Mr. Phuc)
The digital dental workflow with metal 3D printing
Dentistry is one of the most successful uses of metal 3D printing, because every product is customized to the patient. A typical digital workflow looks like this:
- Data capture: scan the mouth with an intraoral scanner, or scan plaster models with a desktop scanner.
- Design: the technician designs frameworks, crowns and bridges in dental CAD software from the scan data.
- Metal printing: many units are nested on one build plate and printed from dental-grade alloy powder.
- Post-processing: stress-relief heat treatment, cutting off the plate, support removal, grinding and polishing.
- Finishing: layer porcelain or apply esthetic material, then test the fit on the model.
Comparing ways to make dental metal frameworks
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional casting | Familiar, low investment | Many manual steps, prone to casting porosity, depends on skill |
| CNC milling | Uniform material, good surface | Wastes blank material, geometry limited by tool size |
| Metal 3D printing | Complex shapes, many units per build, little material waste | Needs post-processing, machine investment and tight process control |
A big advantage of metal printing is repeatability: once the process is stable, quality is more consistent from part to part than with manual methods. Beyond dentistry, the same technology is used for low-volume mechanical parts, molds with cooling channels and spare parts.
For workshops that have not invested in a metal printer, outsourcing is an effective way to test and fill small orders. Check out our metal 3D printing service for advice on the right material and process for each part.
Frequently asked questions
Are 3D printed metal dental frameworks as strong as cast ones?
Usually equal or better if printing and heat treatment meet standards, because the metal structure is more uniform and less porous than castings. Quality still depends heavily on the powder and process control.
Which materials are used for dental metal 3D printing?
The most common are cobalt-chrome and titanium alloys. Both are strong and widely used in dental restorations.
Do dental metal 3D prints need polishing?
Yes. The as-printed surface is rough and has support marks, so it needs grinding, sandblasting and polishing before porcelain layering or delivery.
Should a small dental lab invest in a metal 3D printer?
Only when volume is high and steady enough to use the machine’s full capacity. For small volumes, a printing service usually costs less.
Related services at CT3D Group
- SLM metal 3D printing service
- Custom 3D printing service
- 3D scanning service – high-accuracy 3D scanning
- CT3D Group network: ct3dgroup.com · in3d.edu.vn – Hotline/Zalo 0975 008 728
