Precision printing for dental technology: Planmeca presents new Creo X

The Finnish manufacturer Planmeca is expanding its CAD/CAM portfolio with the dental 3D printer Creo X, which builds on a ten-year development line in additive manufacturing for practices and laboratories. The aim of the system is to enable typical indications such as models, splints, surgical guides and temporary restorations to be produced reproducibly in-house without having to rely on external service providers.

Technically, the Creo X is based on the mechanical platform of its predecessor, the Creo C5, but has been largely redesigned on the inside. Planmeca has reworked the drive units, the resin vat and the exposure unit in order to achieve longer maintenance intervals and lower operating costs. The printer is optimized for use with light-curing resins and is therefore typically suited to DLP/LCD-based layer processes as commonly used in dental technology.

At its core is a new exposure source based on chip-on-board LEDs, combined with a monochrome LCD panel. This optical system achieves a nominal pixel size of 34 micrometres, putting it below the already fine resolution level of the previous model and thus offering even higher detail. In practice, this is intended to enable sharp occlusal surfaces, delicate splint margins and precise implant guides to be produced without requiring extensive post-processing by the user.

To ensure process stability, Planmeca has integrated a heater for resin temperature control into the device. The temperature management is intended to ensure that different materials can be processed with similar flow behaviour in treatment rooms and laboratory environments with varying climatic conditions. According to the manufacturer, the user interface has been simplified based on feedback from the field so that prepared print jobs can be started with just a few inputs.

“With Planmeca Creo X, even beginners can start 3D printing with confidence, knowing their printer will meet their expectations and deliver reliable results every time. Reliability was the key factor in the product development, which is why we have ensured the printer is capable of meeting the evolving requirements of various printing materials, both now and in the future. The combination of advanced mechanical components and new optics ensures perfect results every time, guaranteeing reliability even in the busiest environments,” states Pontus Degerlund, CAD/CAM Director at Planmeca.

The combination of revised mechanics and new optics is designed to accommodate future resin types and withstand high utilization in laboratories. For users, the printer is therefore primarily intended to provide a way of closing existing digital workflows from intraoral scan and CAD design all the way to the finished component.