High-End Laser-Sintering as a supplement to Zfx‘s milling technology

Over the last ten years Zfx has made a name for itself as reliable milling service provider with high demands on quality. The High-tech milling machines are used for the fabrication of dental prosthesis made from a range of different raw materials from ceramics up to precious metal. In March 2017 the product range will be extended further by offering laser-sintered crown and bridge frameworks, as well as tertiary constructions and model casting elements that are made from Cobalt Chromium-Molybdenum alloy. In particular, this option is interesting for price-conscious dental technicians, which would like to completely avoid the casting technique in their own lab.

Zfx uses the high-end system EOS M 100 for direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS). This system has been developed by the company EOS, located in Krailling, based on longterm expertise in the field of fabrication of complex and delicate filigree components and thus is predestined for the fabrication of dental prostheses. The used raw material – EOS CobaltChrome SP2 – is a CE-certified Cobalt Chromium-Molybdenum alloy, which can be finished with classic veneer ceramics for metal frameworks (for example VITA VM® 13).

Zfx offers laser-sintered frameworks & Co. at a considerably cheaper price than milled structures (from 13.90€ per unit, additional quantity discounts are offered upwards from 30 and 75 units per month). Therefore it is the high cost-efficiency of the system for the additive manufacturing, that enables it to produce about 70 units within a four hour period. Short delivery times can be kept easily , the delivery is carried out within 48 hours upon the sending of digital construction data (STL-data file) by UPS (24h Express production on request). The crown and bridge frameworks, the tertiary constructions and model casting elements are supplied in raw state as standard – only the support structures are removed. In addition a surface treatment is carried out by Zfx, upon customers‘ request. Experience has shown that the post-processing effort is very low using the EOS M 100, resulting from a homogeneous microstructure and a very high surface quality which is achieved first time round.