APS: The Patented Technology Inside the Ceramix-Nano

A technical deep dive into how Adaptive Pneumatic Stereolithography (APS) makes same-hour, permanent ceramic restorations 3D printing possible.

The Problem APS Was Built To Solve

Ceramic-filled materials generate excellent clinical outcomes, but their physical properties push conventional 3D printing technology to its limits. The higher the ceramic content, the thicker and less fluid the resin becomes.

Traditional stereolithography 3D printers rely on a resin tank through which material flows freely. With high-viscosity materials like ceramic resins, that flow can’t happen reliably. The result is inconsistent layer formation, print failures, and compromised mechanical properties.

Specialized 3D printers like SHINING 3D Dental’s own AccuFab-F1 addressed the viscosity challenge, but speed remained a constraint.

Even when high-viscosity materials can be printed successfully, the peeling process introduces a second challenge. After each layer is cured, it needs to separate or “peel” from the bottom of the resin tank before the build platform rises and the next layer is exposed.

With low-viscosity resins, this separation happens easily. With ceramic-filled resins, the higher material density and greater adhesion to the tank surface means the peel requires significantly more controlled force. Too aggressive, and the layer tears or delaminates. Too slow, and the total print time extends beyond what chairside, same-day dentistry demands.

Our engineers developed APS to solve both the viscosity challenge and the peeling challenge.

How APS Works

In short, APS (Adaptive Pneumatic Stereolithography) replaces the fixed mechanical peeling process found in conventional printers with an efficient pneumatic-assisted separation system.

After each layer is cured by the DLP optical engine, the build platform needs to separate from the cured resin surface. In a conventional printer, this separation relies entirely on the mechanical movement of the Z-axis mechanical movement to tear the printed part away from the film. This requires a long, time-consuming travel distance that, applies high force.

APS works differently by utilizing pneumatic assistance. As the Z-axis moves just a minimal distance, precise air pressure intervenes to gently separate the film from the printed part. This protects the integrity of the part, drastically shortens the operational distance, and significantly increases efficiency.

What this means:

• Gentler separation: Pneumatic assistance releases the part from the film without mechanical force. This is particularly important for ceramic-filled resins, which are highly prone to stress fractures during aggressive mechanical pulls.
• Faster print times: Drastically reduced Z-axis travel shortens each peeling cycle, making a 6-minute crown print time achievable.

• Consistent mechanical properties: Each layer is separated in optimal conditions, offering consistent structural integrity throughout the print, regardless of geometry or restoration type.

• Room for stronger materials: The APS capsule design accommodates materials with significantly higher viscosities than traditional systems. This leaves immense room for future material R&D and iteration, ensuring that 3D printing will continue to meet and exceed the most demanding clinical strength requirements.

APS in Practice

For the dentist, APS operates entirely in the background. There are no parameters to set, no adjustments to make. The Ceramix-Nano reads the capsule, configures itself, and prints. APS manages the complexity of each layer separation automatically, without any input required.

What APS makes visible is the result: a permanent ceramic restoration with consistent mechanical properties, accurate marginal fit, and the structural integrity to perform reliably over the long term.

LumiCera materia achieves a flexural strength of 200 MPa and has been fatigue-tested to 800N of force over 10 million cycles. The material performs. APS ensures every print does too.

Want to learn more about the Ceramix-Nano 3D printer? Download the Ceramix-Nano Brochure or get in touch with our Sales team.