BIRMINGHAM, UK, Feb 22, 2013 - Delcam will launch dedicated versions of its DentMILL dental milling software tailored specifically for the production of dental restorations on the Datron D5 & Digital Dental Lab desktop machining systems, at the IDS exhibition to be held in Cologne, Germany, from 12 to 16 March. Delcam is currently in discussion with other dental equipment manufacturers to extend further, its range of machine-specific software.

‘DentMILL for Datron’ and ‘DentMILL for DDL’ follow the pattern established by the ‘DentMILL for Roland’ milling software introduced by Delcam last November. These OEM versions of DentMILL make dental machining easier than ever by ensuring that the user is only presented with the machine kinematics, fixtures and material discs which are relevant and available. To ensure optimum machining efficiency, they include machine-specific templates for the automated generation of three-axis and five-axis toolpaths for the particular piece of equipment.

The new releases expand their comprehensive range of software for the dental industry. Delcam is the only company able to offer a complete, open implantology solution from accurately capturing the implant position and orientation, through to the high-precision, multi-axis milling of customised abutments, implant bridges and dental bars, with a management system to track every stage of the process.

All three of the machine-specific milling systems are based on PowerMILL CAM system for high-speed and five-axis machining, whose rapidly growing global sales have helped to make the company the world’s leading specialist supplier of CAM software and services for the last twelve years. They have all been developed by Delcam’s in-house development team, which is by far the largest in the industry.

Like their generic DentMILL software, all of the dedicated programs benefit from the many proven strengths of PowerMILL. These include a range of advanced strategies that offer smoother machining to give the best possible surface finish, plus flexible five-axis techniques that can produce even the most complex restorations quickly and accurately. In addition, background-processing capabilities mean that toolpath calculations can be started on the first items added to the block, while the remaining restorations are still being positioned. The technology also allows work to be undertaken simultaneously on a number of projects. Both capabilities can reduce the overall calculation times significantly for a series of restorations.

The new releases also include all the major developments in the new DentMILL 2013 release. These include a completely redesigned interface, with a reduced number of toolbars to allow the maximum screen space for toolpath generation and simulation together with bolder and clearer icons. The new streamlined appearance has been developed in association with dental laboratories and milling centres to ensure that technicians with limited experience of computer-aided machining will find the technology easy to learn and to use.

The efficiency of material use is optimised with automatic nesting tools to position the various restorations within the block. In addition, the ability to apply part-to-part pinning allows restorations to be nested more closely together. As well as being positioned in the most efficient 2D arrangement, the restorations are oriented in the optimum 3D alignment so that the most cost-effective thickness of material block can be used.

Each of the programs incorporates a materials stock-management system that allows the user only to select sizes of material block that are currently in stock. The program then selects the fixture appropriate for that block and the machine from the library supplied with the software, and applies automatically the shrinkage allowance and milling templates for the material.

Partly-used blocks can be added back into the stock-management system so that any remaining material can be used on future projects.

The dedicated systems can accept data from all the main dental CAD systems. However, if required, they can each be supplied with Delcam’s DentCAD design software as part of a complete dental CADCAM system.

Close integration is also possible between all the DentMILL variants and Delcam’s OrderManager workflow management software so that the management system can be updated automatically with manufacturing data as it is generated. This high level of integration makes it easy to track both the progress of individual orders and the centre’s total order status. In addition, OrderManager generates business reports automatically for production managers, admin staff and owners allowing them to measure their productivity and, ultimately, their profitability.