New DGSHAPE dental mills meet increasing demand for lab-friendly automation and management tools

DGSHAPE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roland DG Corporation, has launched two new 5-axis dental mills: the DWX-52DCi automatic disc changer model with new DWINDEX management and productivity software; and the DWX-52D, an upgrade to its industry-standard DWX-51D.

Since their introduction in 2010, the DWX series dental mills have gained widespread recognition and industry awards for their desktop size, user-friendliness, robust reliability and open architecture which has contributed to the digitalisation of dental restorations worldwide. The DWX-52DCi and DWX-52D add exciting new features and capabilities to further automate and expand the formerly labour-intensive workflow.

The DWX-52DCi features an Automatic Disc Changer (ADC) capable of storing up to six discs of different materials, enabling discs to be replaced automatically during milling to maximise lab productivity. In addition, the DWX-52DCi supports new DWINDEX management software for monitoring key productivity indexes, including operation time, materials used and deliverables. According to Kohei Tanabe, President of DGSHAPE Corporation, the company developed DWINDEX to simplify information gathering and decision making for busy lab managers. "Now, you can see at glance when to order materials, replace tools or determine your return-on-investment. These features will also become key elements when digital dentistry enters the era of IoT and AI."

The DWX-52D is now equipped with a new snap-on clamp system which offers a faster and more secure set-up of various materials, making lab operation easier than ever. Both mills represent the latest dental technologies available, including an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) for fully automated 5-axis milling of a wide range of materials, including Zirconia, wax, PMMA, gypsum, PEEK, glass fibre-reinforced resin, composite resin and CoCr sinter metal. Typical applications include crowns, copings, bridges, inlays and onlays, veneers, abutments, implant bars, screw-retained crowns, dentures, models, surgical guides and bite splints.

The ATC is capable of holding 15 tools for uninterrupted milling overnight, with an additional slot dedicated to a cleaning tool for maintaining a clean milling operation. Continuing DGSHAPE's reputation for high-quality, precision milling, both mills include a rigid frame with ball screw axis control, automatic calibration of all five axes and an ionizer for reducing static electricity when milling PMMA. Air pressure is adjusted automatically, depending on the type of material being milled, for continuous, reliable production.

Other advanced features include a Virtual Machine Panel (VPanel) which allows users to quickly configure settings for up to four machines from a single computer for high-volume production. To help minimise downtime, the VPanel monitors operational status and sends email notifications at the end of milling, maintenance completion or if errors should occur.

"The DWX-52DCi and DWX-52D are the latest in a long line of DGSHAPE products designed to satisfy our customers' demands for easy-to-use, plug-and-play devices that can be operational out of the box within minutes," Mr Tanabe said. "The open architecture means they can be used with the CAD/CAM software that dental technicians are already familiar with to cut learning time and create the optimum workflow for every production environment."

DGSHAPE Corporation was developed from Roland DG Corporation in April 2017. "The mission of DGSHAPE," Mr Tanabe said, "is to harness the 3D digital fabrication technologies and expertise that Roland DG has developed over more than three decades as well as its proprietary digital cell production system and global customer service and support in order to provide advanced digital solutions that shape the future."