Smoothing the Base of a Dental Model in SelfCAD

SelfCAD is a 3D design software that integrates 3D modeling, sculpting, and 3D printing capabilities into one platform, making it useful for artistic, technical, and 3D printing. It offers a user-friendly interface and various tools for creating 3D models from scratch or modifying the ones created in other programs, including 3D Scans.  

Steps to Adding a Smooth Base to a Dental Model

In this section, we will learn how to add a smooth base to a dental model using the various SelfCAD tools. To start, launch SelfCAD and open the workspace:

From the File menu on the top toolbar, click Import:

Click Load Object from the Tutorial:

On the right side panel, click on the Face Coloring to activate it:

Click on the Rotate Tool on the toolbar, and set X to 90:

Click “X” to close the transformation panel. On the toolbar, from the Modify category, select the Simplify Object:

Set the Intensity to 5 and tick the check mark to finalize Simplify Object:

Click Copy to copy the selected object:

Activate the Move tool on the toolbar and use the highlighted gizmo to move the X to 71:

On the right side, activate the Edge Selection and click on the gear icon to open the Edge selection settings. Click on the Select Loose and click “X” to close the panel:

From the Deform category, select Flatten:

Use the highlighted gizmo to set Y to 0:

Click on the “X” to close the panel. Then, de-select the highlight regions (You can click on the grid to de-select).

From the Tools category, select Fill Polygons:

Tick on the check mark to finalize Fill Polygons:

There you go, the polygon has been filled beautifully:

Click on the Inverse Selection, to inverse the selection. Click on the gear icon to open the edge selection settings. Click on the Select Loose, and then click Copy:

Click “X” to close the selection settings panel:

Click Copy again:

Activate the Move tool and set the Move mode to Move By. Set the Y to -1:

Close the transformation panel, then click on the object name below:

Change the object name to 2nd:

Select the profile_1 and 2nd. On the toolbar, from the Tools category, select Bridge:

Set the Fill Last to false, and tick the check mark to finalize the Bridge:

On the selection tools on the right-side panel, activate the Polygon Selection, and select the highlighted region as shown below. Then from the Deform category, select Flatten:

Use the highlighted gizmo to set Y to 0:

Turn off the regions selected. Then select the mesh and the shell_occlusion_1. Then on the top toolbar, on the Edit menu, select Merge:

There you go, you have added a smooth base to the dental model:

Understanding this technique of adding a smooth base to a dental model is very important for ensuring accuracy and stability in dental procedures. With the steps outlined in this guide, dental professionals can achieve a precise and reliable foundation for their models, facilitating more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes. After you finish 3D modeling, you can use the in-built online slicer of SelfCAD to slice your files and generate the G-code to send to your 3D printer. Learn how SelfCAD slicer works in the video below.

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Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.

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