Surgical Guides

Printing Strategy for Surgical Guides

Application: Surgical Guide
Resin: CURO Guide
Layer Thickness: 100 μm
Software: Alpha 3D

Print Analysis

Critical Areas (No Support)

The most important location on the surgical guide is the interior area where it touches the teeth. For the best fit, this area must be printed without supports. This side faces upwards, so it is not supported.

Minimal Support Area

It is best practice to not put supports on the fitting areas because tools and casing are added at those places. If it is necessary to put supports here, use as few as possible, but make sure the print is securely attached to the build platform.

Main Support Area

The reverse side must be completely supported because there are no supports on the fitting area. Add as many supports to the entire rest of the smooth surface as necessary. Windowed areas can be supported as well because the support marks do not affect visibility or the space in which to operate.

Orientation

  1. Put the model in a position so that the molar side of the guide is closer to the platform, and the side closer to the incisors is raised.

Angle : 10 – 15 °

  1. Raise the model off the platform.

Support Height: 2.0 – 2.5 mm

Note: For the best results, we recommend that you make the holes parallel with the build platform. By putting the parallel with the build platform, you can make sure that the hole is completely symmetrical. You can use the Select Base function to make the hole level with the build platform.

Supports

When adding supports to the model, we recommend the following procedure:

  1. Open the Supports panel, apply the settings as shown below, and click the Auto Support button to add supports.
  2. Click the Manual Support button and remove any supports that are too close together.
  3. Add supports to any areas that have too few supports.
  4. Change the support settings to be the same as the Base Support settings shown below.
  5. Remove all supports along the lowest points of the print.
  6. Add more manual supports (with the Base Support settings) to the lowest points of the print to make sure that area is securely attached to the build platform.

Note: You must select an object to add supports to that specific model. You cannot use the Auto Supports or Manual Support functions with all models at the same time.

Auto Supports

  • Point Size: 0.5 – 0.9 mm
  • Elbow Size: 0.8 – 1.3 mm
  • Bottom Size: 1.1 – 1.6 mm
  • Support Density: 88%
  • Support Height: 2.0- 2.5 mm

Note: Prints using CURO Guide resin must be raised slightly higher off the platform so that the supports and bottom portions do not cure together.

Base Supports

  • Point Size: 0.8 – 1.3 mm
  • Elbow Size: 1.1- 1.6 mm
  • Bottom Size: 1.4 – 2.0 mm
  • Support Density: 88%
  • Support Height: 2.0 – 2.5 mm

Base

We strongly recommend adding a base to your model because it allows the print to securely attach to the build platform. A base also makes the print easier to remove during processing.

If you use the General support setting, Alpha 3D automatically adds a small base to every support. This small base is sufficient for most prints.

Additionally, you can add a base around the entire print using the Base Thickness setting. This makes it easier to remove the print from the build platform.

Warning: A thicker base does not improve print performance. A Base Thickness of 0.400 mm or thicker can make a print less likely to succeed.

Printing

When all of the models that you want to print are in place, click the Printing Setup button to open the Printing Setup window.

  1. Make sure the settings are as follows:
  2. Your printer is selected on the Printer Model dropdown list.
  3. QuraGUIDE is selected on the Material dropdown list.
  4. The Layer Thickness is set. We recommend a layer thickness of 100 micrometres.
  5. Click the Print button to open the Print window and save your model as a print file. The top of the window shows your Printing Setup settings.
  6. Key in a Job Name
  7. Click the Save button to save the name and settings.

Alpha 3D slices the model into layers and creates the print file. When the process is complete, it shows the IBF file in a window. You can now send this IBF file to your printer and start the printing process.

Finishing

When the printing process is complete, you must clean, dry, and remove the print supports.

  • Cleaning Alcohol: Ethyl alcohol (95%) or isopropyl alcohol (99%)
  • Ultrasonic Cleaner or Soak Time: 2 minutes
  • Suggested UV Oven: Ackuretta UV Oven
  • Suggested UV Oven Time: 30 seconds on the bottom side; turn the print over; 60 seconds on the top side.

Tip: Hold the Start button on the Ackuretta UV Oven to use flash curing instead of continuous curing. Flash curing reduces resin distortion.