Applies to: E4, Z4

Setting up and using 3Shape Produce workflow

3Shape Produce enables standardized data exchange between TRIOS Design Studio and DentalCAM.

The 3Shape Produce workflow is supported for the following vhfdental machines:

For Z4 users: Changeover video

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3Shape Produce replaces the CAD/CAM integration of TRIOS Design Studio. A change back to CAD/CAM integration is not planned.

To create jobs for objects, work with both TRIOS Design Studio and DentalCAM in the 3Shape Produce workflow.

3Shape Produce workflow

ChairsideCAM and DentalCAM

ChairsideCAM is a variant of DentalCAM with a specially adapted user interface for the chairside area. The user interface focuses on the typical steps in this workflow.

vhf recommends ChairsideCAM for chairside users.

Main features:

Streamlined interface for accelerated chairside workflow
Designed for single orders – no blank archive available
Exclusively block machining possible
High quality like DentalCAM, because based on the same technology

Schritt 1: Prepare setup

The following computer configurations are possible

Configuration 1 (default configuration)

Configuration 2 (multi-machine configuration)

Configuration 3 (combined CAD/CAM computer)

For reasons of space, ChairsideCAM has not been included in the diagrams. It replaces DentalCAM when used.
This help article only stipulates machine configurations 1 or 2 for Z4 machines.
Z4 machines use the touchscreen instead of DentalCNC by default.

Only Z4

Connect to the CAM computer via remote desktop access.

 Accessing the CAM computer
Machines with internal CAM computer: If DentalCAM & DentalCNC is installed in version 7, contact your customer service for licensing and installation of version 8.

Licensing is free of charge for machines with a delivery date of 2021 or later.

 Updating to DentalCAM 8 on Z4 machines

All machines

Install DentalCAM & DentalCNC 8.07 or a higher version on the CAM computer.
 Installing DentalCAM & DentalCNC
 Updating DentalCAM and DentalCNC
If you use the function for multi-machine control, switch to computer configuration 2 for machines in the 3Shape Produce workflow.

The multi-machine control cannot be used together with the 3Shape Produce workflow.
License and install TRIOS Design Studio including all components required for 3Shape Produce on the CAD computer.

Schritt 2: Set up 3Shape Produce

Configure DentalCNC

You perform the following steps on each CAM computer:

Open the DentalCNC Application settings with the following icon in the main icon bar:
Open the General settings with the following icon in the local icon bar:
Activate the CAD/CAM integration and 3Shape Produce enabled option.

Recommendation: activate ChairsideCAM

If you want to use ChairsideCAM, perform the following steps on each CAM computer:

Open the DentalCAMapplication settings window with the following icon in the main icon bar:
Open the View for general settings with the following icon in the program settings icon bar:
Activate the Activate ChairsideCAM option.
Save your changes with the following icon:

Restart DentalCAM.

DentalCAM starts as ChairsideCAM.

Set up manual STL import

The manual STL import is the default case.

Perform the following steps on each CAM computer:

Open the STL import view with the following icon in the main icon bar:
Set the following folder as the root folder:

<DentalCAM-InstallationFolder>\STLimpExternal

Example:C:\vhf\DentalCAM_8\STLimpExtern

On Z4 machines, the installation folder is always on the C drive:

ChairsideCAM:  Setting STL root folder

DentalCAM Specifying the root folder

Alternative, if you use DentalCAM instead of ChairsideCAM: Set up automatic import

Setting up TRIOS Design Studio

You perform the following steps on the CAD computer:

Open TRIOS Design Studio.
In the Produce area, select Machine setup.

The Machines configuration window opens.

In the Filters area, select the All check box.
Scroll down the list to the entry of the desired machine.
- Z4: Identify the machine by its serial number.
- Other machines: Identify the machine by the name of the CAM computer.
- The gray dot indicates that there is currently no connection.
Select Setup for the desired machine.

If the connection is successful, the dot turns green. For connection problems, see  Troubleshooting.

Save the machine configuration with Close.
If you want to add more machines to the 3Shape Produce workflow (machine configuration 2), repeat the last 5 steps for each additional machine.

Example: Add another Z4 machine

Schritt 3: Use 3Shape Produce

If you use multiple machines in the 3Shape Produce workflow, select the machine in TRIOS Design Studio:

In the Produce area, select Change machine.
In the Machines area, select the desired machine.

Example: Choose between several Z4 machines

Check that the green dot displays a successful connection to the CAM computer of the machine.

For connection problems see  Troubleshooting
Select the object you want to export.
Select Send.

TRIOS Design Studio writes one STL file per object into the exchange directory.

Only Z4: Connect to the CAM computer via remote desktop access.

 Accessing the CAM computer
Switch to the STL import view in ChairsideCAM / DentalCAM.
Select the STL file for editing in ChairsideCAM / DentalCAM:
- When importing STL manually, select the STL file from the root folder.
  
  Figure shows ChairsideCAM; Procedure identical at DentalCAM
- With automatic import, the object is already on the STL import list.
  
  Figure shows DentalCAM; Procedure not possible at ChairsideCAM
Continue with the order processing in ChairsideCAM / DentalCAM.

Remove machines

Open TRIOS Design Studio.
In the Produce area, select Machine setup.

The Machines configuration window shows all machines in the 3Shape Produce workflow.

Identify the machine by its serial number (Z4) or by the name of the CAM computer (other machines).
Select Remove for the desired machine.
Save the machine configuration with Close.

Troubleshooting

If TRIOS Design Studio does not find the CAM computer of a machine, do the following:

Check the network:

Is the CAM computer switched on and DentalCNC started?
Was a supported machine selected in the setup program when installing DentalCAM & DentalCNC?
If you are using a WiFi connection: Is the signal sufficient? Recommendation: Change to a wired connection as a test.
If you are using a wired connection: Have you connected all Ethernet cables to the CAD and CAM computer?
Recommendation: Connect the CAM computer directly to the CAM computer via Ethernet cable as a test.
Is a firewall blocking the connection between the CAD computer and the CAM computer?

On the CAM computer, open Windows Explorer and manually start the 3Shape Produce service in the following folder:

C:\Program Files\vhf camfacture AG\Produce.Service\>
Turn off and on the incoming firewall rule for the 3Shape Produce service on the CAM computer:

Open the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security application.
Select Incoming Rules in the left column.
In the Incoming Rules area, right-click Produce Service and select Disable Rulefrom the context menu.
Repeat the last step and this time select Activate Rule from the context menu.

Refresh the machine list in TRIOS Design Studio with Refresh.

What's next?

You can now edit STL files exported from TRIOS Design Studio using ChairsideCAM or DentalCAM.

To get started, we recommend beginners:

ChairsideCAM: Importing STL files

DentalCAM: Basic workflow