CAD/CAM - Degudent

CAD/CAM
Brain® CAM V3
Instructions for Use
Table of contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................... 5
General.............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Indications..................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Contraindications.......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Safety warnings............................................................................................................................................................. 6
Safety precautions......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Brain CAM user interface and tools...........................................................................................................................7-13
Icon bar......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Disks........................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Disk Browser............................................................................................................................................................ 7
Import...................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Milling path calculation............................................................................................................................................. 8
Save......................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Exit........................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Tools – Design............................................................................................................................................................... 9
Sprues..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Connect sprues........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Sinter bar................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Tools – View.................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Optimize height................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Browser window............................................................................................................................................................... 11
Object browser............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Project browser........................................................................................................................................................... 12
Disk browser............................................................................................................................................................... 13
3D
.............................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Status icons..................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Getting started............................................................................................................................................................... 14
Installation................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Language selection..................................................................................................................................................... 14
Updates...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Brain CAM workflow.................................................................................................................................................16-20
STL grabber................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Brain CAM................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Defining blanks............................................................................................................................................................ 16
Reading in objects....................................................................................................................................................... 17
Nesting objects in the blank........................................................................................................................................ 17
Height optimization................................................................................................................................................ 18
Placing sprues....................................................................................................................................................... 18
Notes on nesting.................................................................................................................................................... 19
Calculating the NC program........................................................................................................................................ 20
Xpert MillManager....................................................................................................................................................... 20
3
Table of contents
MillManager: Details..................................................................................................................................................21-27
MillManager dialog...................................................................................................................................................... 21
Title bar.................................................................................................................................................................. 21
Project section....................................................................................................................................................... 22
Blank section......................................................................................................................................................... 22
USB stick section................................................................................................................................................... 23
Milling section........................................................................................................................................................ 23
Connection to Brain Xpert status........................................................................................................................... 24
Vacuum status....................................................................................................................................................... 24
Hood status........................................................................................................................................................... 24
Tool status.............................................................................................................................................................. 25
Replacement tool status......................................................................................................................................... 25
Manual disconnect – Cancel button....................................................................................................................... 26
Blank preview......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Milling progress bar................................................................................................................................................ 26
Status bar.............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Error messages...................................................................................................................................................... 27
Configuration............................................................................................................................................................... 27
In case of problems....................................................................................................................................................... 28
Errors, potential causes and possible remedies for Brain CAM.................................................................................... 28
Errors, potential causes and possible remedies for MillManager.................................................................................. 28
4
Introduction
Dear customer:
Copyright and trademarks
Thank you for purchasing DeguDent software.
Copyright
© 2013 DeguDent GmbH. All rights reserved.
This software facilitates the computer-assisted production
of dental restorations. Improper use and handling can cre-
The information contained in this document may change
ate hazards and cause damage. Therefore, please read and
without notice.
carefully follow this document and all relevant instructions.
Make sure to keep these within easy reach.
The software and all related documentation are protected
by intellectual property law. Handle it as you would any oth-
Strictly observe all safety notes and alerts to prevent per-
er protected material.
sonal injury or material damage.
Copying this software to any medium for any purpose other
Sincerely,
than personal use without the written permission of Degu-
Your Brain CAM team
Dent is liable to prosecution.
DeguDent GmbH
Trademarks
Rodenbacher Chaussee 4
Microsoft® and Windows 7® are registered trademarks.
63457 Hanau-Wolfgang
Germany
Windows™ is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
www.degudent.com
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
5
General
Indications
Safety precautions
Brain CAM is a CAM application for nesting and sprueing,
The safety instructions preceding the Instructions for Use
controlling the milling unit and generating milling paths for
include cautions and warnings for safe operation of the sys-
dental crowns and bridges in the dental laboratory. The
tem components.
software has been designed exclusively for use with the
Cercon brain expert or Brain Xpert milling unit.
Make sure to observe the safety instructions in the Instructions for Use of the various Cercon units and the pertinent
Brain CAM must not be used for any indications other
supplementary documentation.
than those approved in the Cercon art, Cercon base disk,
Cercon brain expert and Brain Xpert Instructions for Use.
Before operating the Brain CAM unit for the first time,
please read these Instructions for Use carefully. They con-
Contraindications
tain important information concerning system safety, use
Brain CAM is not suitable for any purposes other than those
and maintenance. This will protect you and prevent dam-
described in the Cercon art, Cercon base disk, Cercon
age to the system.
brain expert and Brain Xpert Instructions for Use.
Retain these Instructions for Use and make them available
Safety warnings
to all users of the system.
Improper repairs or interventions directed at the units may
compromise the integrated safety and protective functions
Make sure to read, in addition to this chapter, the separate
(including electromagnetic protection) of Brain CAM and
Instructions for Use for the PC and monitor components.
may cause personal injury or damage the system.
This chapter contains all information required for the safe
Hardware components must be repaired using original re-
operation of Brain CAM.
placement parts only. This is the only way to ensure the
stated performance and required operating safety.
Downloading software updates or transmitting data for processing outside the laboratory requires access to the public
We recommend signing a maintenance contract for your
telephone network or to a local area network (LAN) with
Cercon brain expert/Brain Xpert.
Internet access.
Modifications of system components may constitute a direct safety hazard and are therefore prohibited. In addition
to the direct safety hazards, indirect hazards may occur,
including errors in the dental restorations produced with
Brain CAM.
6
Brain CAM user interface and tools
2
(1) Icon bar
3
1
(2) Workspace
(3) Tool selection
(4) Browser window
(5) 3D view
(6) 3D section
4
5
6
Icon bar
Blanks
Click the Blanks icon to open the disk management window, where all the blanks that have been defined
are shown in a list. If you click a blank, you see a picture
of the blank with the objects assigned to it (millable parts).
You can archive blanks that have been fully used. Furthermore, you can print information on a specific blank, including details on the blank itself, such as material, thickness or
shade, and any cases for which objects were nested in this
blank, such as file names, patients, caregivers, etc. Once
archived, blanks are deleted from the list of available blanks
and cannot be restored.
Blank Browser
The Blank Browser is the graphical disk management interface. When you open the Blank Browser, all
defined blanks are shown in a graphical overview. Here you
can filter the blanks according to material, thickness or other properties. Double­-click on a blank to load it into Brain
CAM for processing.
7
Brain CAM user interface and tools
Import
Click the Import icon to activate the data import function. You can import any design file created with
­Cercon art (*.ddx), DeguDent 3Shape (*.3sz) or ExoCAD
(*.constructioninfo). This function can be used in addition
to the STL grabber.
Milling path calculation
Click the Milling icon to open the milling path calculation window and performed the calculations for your
nested cases.
Save
Click the Save icon to save the current processing
status. The autosave function is always active.
Close
Click Close to exit the program.
8
Brain CAM user interface and tools
Tools – Design
Tools – View
Sprues
Zooming into the workspace (move the blank up
With this tool button activated (background is
blue) you can place the sprues on the object. To do so,
and down on the screen by pressing the mouse wheel and
dragging the mouse)
move the mouse pointer along the edge of the object. The
sprues will be shown in the workspace area. Click to place
the sprue at the desired position, which is visible in the
Zooming out of the workspace
workspace or in the 3D view and can be moved up and
down with the mouse wheel.
Show milling area
Connect sprues
Show rotational axis
If the objects are positioned close enough to each
other, you can define a sprue that connects them. This will,
however, not be possible if the objects are too far apart or
Show grid
differ too much in embedding height. Successfully connected sprues will turn green on the screen.
Show custom wallpaper
Sinter bar
This tool lets you create a sinter bar. For objects
larger than 8 units, it is advisable to place a sinter bar. Click
a point within the workspace to define the starting point for
the sinter bar. Drag with the mouse and click a second time
Define viewing mode
to define the end point for the sinter bar. The line between
the starting and ending points will be milled from the blank.
To exit this function, right-click or press Esc.
Optimize height
9
Brain CAM user interface and tools
Optimize height
The height optimization function allows you to mill objects
from a blank that it would be too high for, if placed with its
vertical axis perpendicularly to the side of the blank.
Click the Blank Angle button. A submenu will open that
lets you adapt the blank to the alignment of the object either automatically or manually. Simply click the Tilt without
rotation button and confirm by clicking OK.
To rotate the blank manually, use the mouse (as shown
here) to turn the object as appropriate. The X-axis is displayed relative to the angle shown by the scale. The Y-axis
remains unaffected. The rotated objects must be placed in
the region of the rotational axis. Confirm by clicking OK.
This is not recommended for larger objects, as the angle
of inclination at the top and bottom may extend the milling
path to the point where the maximum travel of the Z-axis is
exceeded; the unit will terminate the milling process when
its terminal position is reached
The 3D view at the bottom of the screen will be updated
automatically.
The new silhouette of the object will be represented by
dashed lines and is not protected by the collision detection
function. Make sure to take this into account when nesting
other objects.
10
Brain CAM user interface and tools
Browser window
Object browser
The object browser displays all objects that have not yet
been processed.
For each object, the case number, treatment provider, patient, tooth shade, material, type of object, height and a
preview image are displayed.
To add an object for nesting, click and drag it onto the blank
in the workspace.
11
Brain CAM user interface and tools
Project browser
The project browser presents all the information found in
the workspace.
The project browser is structured as a tree diagram. The
root of the tree (shown at the top) is the project number.
This is followed by information in the blank such as material,
shade or thickness.
Next are the nested objects with all details from the object
browser and additional technical milling information.
Beneath each object you will find the corresponding sprues
listed.
In the project browser you can select and delete any element you wish. To do so, click the relevant object (which
will be highlighted in blue to show it is active). Then press
the Del key. This will delete the object both from the project
browser and from the workspace.
12
Brain CAM user interface and tools
Disk browser
The disk browser displays all blanks defined. Here you can
get a quick overview of how the milling objects are arranged
in a given blank.
You can filter the blanks displayed according to material.
Each blank is shown complete with information on its material, shade and thickness.
3D
This area represents a section of the active object as you
define the sprues. This allows you to judge at what height
the sprue must be placed to generate minimal or no undercuts.
Status icons
For each nested object you will be shown status information by way of status icons displayed above each object.
Abutment
Crown
Telescope
Bridge
Milling path calculation OK
Angled
Object marked as reject
Error in milling path calculation
Milling path calculation completed
13
Getting started
Installation
The PC and monitor must be installed in a location suitable
for work with display screen equipment.
Sufficient circulation must be provided.
All units must be protected from excessive heat, moisture,
dust and strong electromagnetic fields.
The Brain CAM dongle must always be connected to a
free USB port on your PC. Without the Brain CAM dongle
plugged in, the Brain CAM software will not be operative.
The software installation and initial commissioning must be
carried out by a service technician designated by D
­ eguDent.
Language selection
You can select your preferred language in the bottom left
corner of the update dialogue. To do so, click the User button and select the language from the pull-down menu.
Updates
To load and install updates, start the update manager. To
do so, double-click
14
. A dialog appears:
Getting started
Click Next to enter the update selection. In this window, select and confirm the appropriate update or fallback version.
In step 3, read the licence agreement and confirm. Step 4
lists all software changes relative to the installed version.
Here, likewise, read and conform.
This will start the automatic download and update the software after your final confirmation.
If you do not have access to the internet, please contact
our technical hotline.
15
Brain CAM workflow
STL grabber
Start the STL grabber by double-clicking
. The STL
grabber examines the predefined D:\Import folder for cases not yet processed. This program runs continuously in the
background and monitors the folder for incoming cases.
Once imported into Brain CAM, the files can be deleted
from the import folder. Your next task is to define blanks and
to copy cases to be processed into the import directory.
Brain CAM
Before starting Brain CAM, the Brain CAM dongle must be
connected to the PC.
Start Brain CAM by double-clicking the CAM Brain icon
.
Defining blanks
When on the home screen, simply plug in the USB stick
provided with the Cercon blank. You will see the dialog of
the blank data import routine. This will define the blank within the system.
All important parameters, such as material, height, shade
and magnification factor, are automatically applied. When
defining a blank, you must include the shade in the Designation field, e.g. ht light, to ensure that the correct blank is
referred to in the disk browser.
Click Create. The blank is entered into the database and
displayed.
16
Brain CAM workflow
Reading in objects
Copy the files for the objects to be milled into the predefined D:\Import folder. The STL grabber will capture the
files with objects to be milled and display it in the object
browser. Our example shows a 4-unit bridge as highlighted.
Nesting objects in the blank
Drag and drop to place the objects within the blank. The
selected object (shown in red) will follow your mouse pointer as you move it within the blank. Turn the mouse wheel to
rotate the object. Press and hold the Shift key to increase
the rotation speed. The object will be shown in the 3D view
at the bottom of the screen. Click to deposit the object at
the corresponding position in the blank.
The object will disappear from the object browser, compiled
into a project within the blank and displayed in the project
browser. If you delete an object from the blank, it will reappear in the object browser.
If the tooth shade of the object does not match that of the
blank, a warning message will appear.
If the nested object in the blank is inactive, it will be displayed with a white surface. If you activate the object by
clicking it, it will change its colour to red.
Collision detection is normally deactivated. This will ensure
maximum freedom in nesting. To activate the collision detection function, press and hold the Ctrl key while moving
the object.
This function only checks the boundary (red line) relative to
objects already placed. There is no checking whether the
boundaries of already existing objects touch the active object. You will have to check for this yourself by way of visual
inspection. The collision check is merely an adjunct to that
visual inspection.
17
Brain CAM workflow
Height optimization
If you have objects that are slightly higher than the selected blank, you can nest despite the warning message. In
the warning dialog, press the Ignore button. The object will
be placed and marked as active, and the Optimize height
button will appear below the tool selection. This function
optimizes the position of the object within the blank by tilting and/or rotating it. Once this function has been activated,
you will be able to move the object, but no can no longer
rotate it.
Placing sprues
Press the
icon to place sprues. Move the mouse
pointer along the edge of the object. This will display small
blue sprues that can be positioned between the blank and
the object. You can check the height at which the sprues
are attached in the 3D view. Turn the mouse wheel to modify the height of the point where the sprue is attached to the
object. Press the left mouse button to place the sprue.
Right-click the object to open a pull-down menu, where you
can generate the sprues automatically (auto-sprues).
Once placed, sprues cannot be modified; you have to delete and re-position them. Click the sprue to activate it (it
will turn red), then press the Del button and confirm the
deletion. The sprue will disappear and can now be placed
somewhere else.
18
Brain CAM workflow
Notes on nesting
When nesting objects, you must ensure that sufficiently
stable connectors remain between the nested objects to
ensure stability within the blank. Do not interconnect more
than two objects.
When connecting two objects, make sure that the sprues
have the same height.
A sprue that is highlighted in green indicates a successful
connection between two objects.
Bridges with eight or more units must be milled and sintered using a sinter bar. This supporting structure should
not be solid. Remember to nest single crowns or bridges
inside the supporting structure.
The sinter bar (marked by a blue C) can be geometrically
designed as a single line, as illustrated. Click the sinter bar
icon
and then click the starting and ending points of
the support. To exit this function, right-click or press Esc.
The sinter bar is not associated with the object and can
therefore be added later if desired.
Caution: Insufficiently stable bars or the use of an insufficient number of sprues may cause vibrations during the
milling process that may result in chipping.
It is advisable in this case to mill the objects individually and
separate it, then nest the next object and process it.
Single crowns must receive at least three sprues.
19
Brain CAM workflow
For bridges, the terminal units must both receive sprues.
For all pontics or crowns, one sprue must each must be
placed on the opposite side.
Calculating the NC program
Once all sprues have been placed, the object can be milled.
To do so, click the Milling icon
. The calculation of the
milling paths starts automatically. A dialog box will appear
in which the depth of cut is checked. Another milling path
calculation dialog opens, indicating the progress of the calculation.
Once the milling paths have been computed, you may
close Brain CAM.
Now start the Xpert MillManager by double-clicking the
icon.
Xpert MillManager
Select the appropriate project from the drop-down menu
and press the Start button. Xpert MillManager will check
the USB stick of the blank, examine the tools and start the
actual milling process. You must confirm this on the milling
unit itself.
20
MillManager: Details
MillManager is a program that transfers the NC file data to
the Brain Xpert milling unit, independently of the Brain CAM
program.
Since the two programs operate independently, you can
prepare the next blank, from nesting to milling path calculation, while the current blank is milled. But this also means
that once the Brain CAM program has finalized the design
process, the design cannot be changed (e.g. by moving or
changing sprues) once the NC files have been computed.
Only one instance of the MillManager program can be run
at a time. This ensures that only one MillManager program
is connected to the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit. Attempts to start a second instance of MillManager
will merely bring the already running instance into the foreground.
MillManager works only with the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain
expert milling unit. It does not support legacy milling units.
MillManager is protected with a Cercon art dongle key. The
dongle must remain in place during the entire program run.
(The Brain CAM program is protected by a different dongle.)
MillManager dialog
The dialog is a single window whose size you can adjust.
The window is divided into horizontal sections, which are
used mainly independently of each other.
Title bar
Use the buttons on the right to minimize or maximize the
window or to terminate the program.
You cannot terminate the program while milling is in progress. (The program transfers NC files to the milling unit
during milling.)
21
MillManager: Details
Project section
A stop can be revoked if the Start button is clicked while
The Project section is the interface to the Brain CAM pro-
the same program continues to be selected. The restart
gram.
revokes the stop, if this is still possible. If the milling process
was already terminated on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain
expert milling unit, the stop cannot be revoked.
To start projects as soon as possible, the next project may
be selected and started while the last object of the previous
project is still being milled.
The drop-down list shows projects for which Brain CAM
has already performed NC calculations and which have not
While milling is in progress, you can monitor any project of
yet been completed.
your choice. You can select a project from the drop-down
list whose content will be listed and whose preview will be
Use the dropdown list to select the current project. If there
shown in the preview field.
is only one project, that project will automatically be selected by MillManager.
If the project currently being milling is displayed, objects
are removed from the project in MillManager as they are
The text below the drop-down list indicates how many ob-
completed. The number of objects changes accordingly.
jects (frameworks, copings or bridges) are to be milled as
When the last object is completed, the entire project will be
part of the project. An object is ready for milling once all NC
removed from MillManager.
files have been generated by Brain CAM.
Brain CAM can generate other projects during the milling
The preview for the selected project as created by Brain
process. Brain CAM can even create new objects within
CAM is displayed next to the drop-down list. If Brain CAM
the project that is currently being milled. These new objects,
has not generated a preview image, a blank disk with the
however, will not be not milled, only stored within the pro-
words No Image will appear instead. The preview is for the
ject. Only objects present at the time the milling process is
information of the user only. MillManager works perfectly
started will be milled.
even without the preview.
The project can be milled once all objects are ready. If the
Blank section
Start button is clicked before the project is ready to mill,
The Blank section provides data on the blank used.
MillManager will wait until all objects have been calculated
by Brain CAM.
Each blank is uniquely identified by a code number. The
blank is specified in the Brain CAM project. This exact blank
Click the Stop button to stop the project. When Stop is
must be mounted in the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert
clicked, MillManager will wait until milling of the current has
milling unit. The machine cannot control whether the blank
been completed. The Stop button is not intended for a
is the correct one; this is the responsibility of the user.
quick abort in the event of a milling error. Abort faulty milling
processes directly on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit.
22
The number is displayed only while milling is in progress.
MillManager: Details
USB stick section
All USB sticks that are detected will appear in the list. This
The USB stick section refers to the USB stick for the indi-
means that if the label on a USB stick were illegible, the
vidual blanks.
number of that stick could be determined via this list.
The USB sticks are used by Brain CAM for the blank library
listing. MillManager checks the Brain CAM data before milling each object.
A delay of several seconds may occur between plugging
The correct USB stick – and only the correct USB stick –
in the USB stick and the instant it appears in the list. The
must be connected. If the USB stick is missing or if other
display of USB sticks work even if milling is not in progress.
USB sticks are connected, a prompt will be displayed.
Milling section
The Milling section provides data on the milling process and
the status of the Brain Xpert milling unit. All status messages that are independent of the current milling process will
be displayed at all times.
The milling process can be continued only after the check
has been successfully passed.
Clicking the Cancel button will abort the checking procedure, which will invariably lead to the milling process itself
being aborted.
The area under the Milling section label shows the name of
the current project. If no project is currently milled, no name
The check is performed only at the beginning of the milling
will be displayed.
process for an object. During milling, additional USB sticks
can be connected. This allows, for example, new blanks to
The central part of this area indicates the status of the Brain
be added to the Brain CAM library while milling is in pro-
Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit. “Active” or “pres-
gress.
ent” is indicated by the checkmark icon
“absent” is indicated by the cross icon
. “Error” or
.
Also, the USB stick can be removed during milling (e.g. if
the port is needed for another stick).
23
MillManager: Details
Connection to Brain Xpert status
This in term means that if the vacuum module is proper-
The connection to the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert
ly deactivated, a cross icon does not indicate failure. Only
milling unit is maintained, if possible, during the entire pro-
if the vacuum module should have been activated by the
gram run. The connection is established automatically once
Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit, the presence
both MillManager and the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain ex-
of the cross icon will signify a fault.
pert milling unit are started.
The status of the vacuum module is displayed for the inA connection failure is indicated by the cross icon. If a failure
formation of the operator only. If the vacuum module is
occurs, MillManager will re-establish the connection auto-
not working during milling, the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain
matically if at all possible. Complete restoration of the con-
expert milling unit and possibly the vacuum module itself
nection may take a few minutes.
should be inspected.
If there is a connection failure during a milling procedure,
MillManager operates independently of the state of the vac-
the procedure can still be completed successfully once
uum module. The Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling
the connection is restored. A short-term connection failure
unit can switch itself off if the vacuum module is defective.
therefore will not interrupt the milling process.
You will find this described in the Instructions for Use for the
Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit.
If the connection is disrupted, all other status values may
well be invalid. (The status values are only valid if the data
Hood status
transfer from the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling
The checkmark icon indicates that the hood is closed. The
unit to the MillManager program is working.)
cross icon indicates that the hood is open.
If the connection is disrupted, the start or continuation of
The status of the vacuum module is displayed for the in-
the milling process may be delayed until the connection is
formation of the operator only. The data transmission from
restored. Only if the data transfer from the MillManager pro-
the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit to the
gram to the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit is
MillManager program works correctly if the opening and
working, the milling operations can be (partially) executed.
closing of the hood is indicated by MillManager with only
minimal delay. The MillManager program also works with
Vacuum status
the hood open.
The checkmark icon indicates that the vacuum module is
working. The cross icon indicates that the vacuum module
The Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit automat-
is not working.
ically reacts if the hood is open. The milling cutter and the
blank can be moved only with the hood closed. You will find
The vacuum module is activated by the Brain Xpert or Cer-
this described in the Instructions for Use for the Brain Xpert
con brain expert milling unit during the milling process. Not
or Cercon brain expert milling unit.
until this activation has happened will the checkmark icon
be displayed.
24
MillManager: Details
Tool status
Replacement tool status
The status of the required tools will not be shown unless
The status of the replacement tools is related to the condi-
a milling process has been started. (The checkmark icon
tion of the tools.
appears because all the tools needed – which is no tools at
all in this situation – are ready.)
The status will not be shown unless a milling process has
been started. (The checkmark icon appears because all the
replacement tools needed are ready.)
Once a project has been started, the tools required are determined from the data and displayed. All the tools needed
are displayed with their diameters in millimetres.
Once a project has been started, the tools required are determined from the data and displayed.
A replacement tool should be used if the main tool is dam-
Milling can be performed only if the needed tools are pres-
aged during milling (cutter breakage).
ent on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit.
The diameter and type of the tools (which are material-de-
The replacement tools are tools with the same diameter and
pendent) and the number of tools required is controlled by
type (material-dependent) and must be present in sufficient
MillManager at the outset.
number, just like the main tools. You will find this described
in the Instructions for Use for the Brain Xpert or Cercon
brain expert milling unit.
If a tool is missing, the cross icon is displayed, and the start
If the milling is completed without cutter breakage, the re-
of the milling process is delayed. If the cross icon is dis-
placement tools will not have to be used. Because it is pos-
played, the missing tool must be installed in the Brain Xpert
sible to mill successfully without any replacement tools, the
or Cercon brain expert milling unit. (Alternatively, you can
absence of replacement tools can be ignored.
abort the milling process by clicking the stop button.)
Once all the necessary tools are available, the starting sequence of the milling process is continued. Information
If the Ignore notice checkbox is checked, MillManager will
about newly installed tools is transmitted automatically. At
start the milling process even in the absence of a replace-
the start of the project, the tools for all objects in the project
ment tool.
are checked. Each time milling of a new object (frameworks,
copings or bridges) is about to begin, the presence of the
required milling tools is checked again. If a cutter breaks,
rendering it unusable, the milling process for a project can
If the Ignore notice checkbox is unchecked, MillManager
come to a halt. If no cutter breaks, the initial check ensures
will delay the milling process until all replacement tools are
that the necessary cutters are available for all objects.
installed in the milling unit.
25
MillManager: Details
While MillManager is waiting after the start of a project be-
Without a manual disconnect, there will be unlimited at-
cause of a missing replacement tool, you can still check the
tempts to restore the connection, without any timeout.
Ignore notice checkbox. The starting sequence will resume
Therefore, MillManager will not abandon milling due to con-
automatically after checking the checkbox.
nection problems.
The status of Ignore notice can be changed while milling is
Blank preview
in progress. The tools are controlled each time milling of a
The right-hand side of the window shows the blank as cal-
new object is about to begin, dependent on the then cur-
culated by Brain CAM. The image is updated during the
rent state of the checkbox.
milling process each time a new object is started. If Brain
CAM does not provide a preview image, a blank disk with
If milling is performed without replacement tools, breakage
the words No Image will appear instead. The picture is for
of a cutter cannot continue automatically with the Brain
information only, and milling is possible without an image
Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit in night mode.
displayed.
When the main tool breaks and the replacement tool has
The image of the blank is also displayed on the Brain Xpert
been taken into use, it will often be the case that no further
or Cercon brain expert milling unit. Because the NC data of
replacement tool is present in the milling unit. If milling is to
the object are transmitted first, there will be a small delay
continue in this situation, i.e. without any additional replace-
when viewing the image on the milling unit. If no image of
ment tool, the Ignore notice checkbox must be checked
the blank is available, a blank disk with the words No Image
once the milling process has been started.
will appear instead. A failure in image transmission image
may cause the image area on the milling unit’s display to
Manual disconnect – Cancel button
go blank. The preview on the milling unit, too, is for the
Use the Cancel button to disconnect from the Brain Xpert
information of the user only, so milling can be completed
or Cercon brain expert milling unit. After a manual discon-
successfully in the absence of an image
nect, the connection will automatically be restored.
During milling, a manual disconnect usually also aborts mill-
Milling progress bar
ing in MillManager. The milling process on the Brain Xpert
The lower part of the MillManager window contains a pro-
or Cercon brain expert milling unit will not necessarily be
gress bar showing the progress of the milling process. The
aborted. Once the NC data has been completely sent, the
bar is divided into objects. Each object within the project is
current object can be completely milled.
represented by an equal length of segment. The bar does
not indicate milling time.
The manual disconnection feature can be used to terminate
the milling process in MillManager if there are insurmountable problems with the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert
Status bar
milling unit or with the network connection to the milling
The status bar indicates the current state of the MillManag-
machine.
er program.
26
MillManager: Details
Error messages
Error messages are superimposed on the dialog box/window.
An error message is acknowledged by clicking on the window, which dismisses the message.
Configuration
No user configuration is generally required. The unit is delivered as a fully configured system.
27
In case of problems
Errors, potential causes and possible remedies for
Brain CAM
If the first instance of the program is not running correctly,
 The USB stick for the material is not or no longer recog-
be started successfully.
this instance must be terminated before a new instance can
nized.
It is always possible to terminate MillManager via the WinFirst option: Exit and restart Brain CAM.
dows Task Manager: Launch the Windows Task Manager
from the Windows Star menu or by concurrently pressing
If this does not deliver the desired result, restart the Brain
Ctrl + Shift + Esc. In the list that appears, MillManager is
CAM program and the BrainServer background process.
identified by the image name ExpertConnect.exe and the
To do so:
description Xpert MillManager. Select this entry and terminate the process by clicking Terminate Process or press-
•Exit Brain CAM.
ing the Del key.
•Launch the Windows Task Manager (by concurrently
pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and select the BrainServer.
Once the offending current instance of MillManager is termi-
exe*32 process. Click Terminate Process at the bottom
nated, a new instance can be started.
right of the task manager window.
•Restart Brain CAM.

MillManager cannot be exited because an error message “The window can be closed only after milling” is
Alternatively, you may try to restart the computer.
 The region of the blank near the edge cannot be used.
displayed.
MillManager must be running during the entire time milling is
in progress. To close the window and exit MillManager, the
A safety margin of 2 mm is provided at the edge of the
milling process must be terminated first.
blank. This is necessary because Brain CAM automatically
calculates simultaneous object-specific 4-axis movements
The error message is acknowledged by clicking on the win-
when undercuts relative to a specific axis are detected. This
dow, which will dismiss the error message and render Mill-
safety margin is required to protect the machine, spindle
Manager operative again.
and tool from collisions during simultaneous operation. If
the safety margin is not respected and the related message
There are different ways of terminating the milling process:
is ignored, serious damage to the machine, the holder, the
tools and the blank may result.
• Waiting until the milling process on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit is completed.
Errors, potential causes and possible remedies for
MillManager
 MillManager will no longer start.
•Clicking the Stop button in MillManager and waiting until the last item is milled. (If no object is currently being
milled, the Stop button can stop the milling immediately.)
•Aborting milling on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert
Only one instance of MillManager should be running at any
time. Attempts to start a second instance of MillManager
will bring the already running instance into the foreground.
milling unit.
•Disconnecting from the milling unit using the Cancel button in MillManager. Aborting the connection usually results in termination of the milling process.
•Terminating MillManager via the Windows Task Manager.
28
In case of problems
 After pressing the Start button, Milling on the Brain Xpert
 Old projects are displayed in MillManager.
or Cercon brain expert milling unit does not start.
MillManager deletes objects after successful milling. Once
The milling startup sequence will be initiated once all ob-
all objects in a project have been milled, the project itself will
jects in a project have been calculated. While there are ob-
also be deleted.
jects left to be calculated, MillManager will remain paused.
This is indicated by the message “X of Y objects ready to
Occasionally, this deletion may fail (one possible cause be-
mill” in the Project section of MillManager.
ing a temporary interference by the antivirus program). Finished projects can be deleted manually by the user.
Milling will start only if there is a working connection to the
Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert milling unit. The connec-
The projects are folders in the NC output directory of the
tion is ready when a green checkmark icon appears before
Brain CAM program. Folders can be deleted using Win-
“Connection to Brain Xpert” in the Milling section if MillMa-
dows Explorer.
nager.
Windows Explorer is accessed from the Windows Start
Milling will start only if all necessary tools have been in-
menu or by using the keyboard shortcut Windows + E. The
stalled and are present on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain
NC output folder is D:\NC-OUT. It contains the project fold-
expert milling unit. If a red cross icon in front of “Tool” is dis-
er. The name of a project is equal to the name of its folder.
played in the Milling section of MillManager, this means that
a necessary tool is missing from the milling unit. The milling
startup sequence of MillManager will continue once all the
 Old objects (copings, bridges) are counted by MillManager.
necessary tools are installed.
MillManager deletes objects only after successful milling. If
Milling will start only if replacement tools have been installed
milling is aborted, the incompletely milled objects of a pro-
for all required tools or if the Ignore notice checkbox has
ject will be retained. This allows the project to be continued
been checked. If a red cross icon in front of “Replacement
after being aborted.
tool” is displayed in the Milling section of MillManager, this
means that a necessary replacement tool is missing from
If there are any calculated objects that should no longer
the milling unit. The milling startup sequence of MillManager
be milled, the entire project can be deleted, or individual
will continue once all the necessary replacement tools are
objects can be deleted from the project. How to delete pro-
installed or the Ignore notice checkbox has been checked.
jects is described in a different section.
The milling of an object will not start unless the USB stick
An object is a folder within a project folder. Folders can be
for the specific blank is connected. If the USB stick is miss-
deleted using Windows Explorer.
ing, a prompt will be displayed in the USB stick section of
MillManager. The milling startup sequence of MillManager
Windows Explorer is accessed from the Windows Start
will continue once the correct USB stick required has been
menu or by using the keyboard shortcut Windows + E. The
connected.
NC output folder is D:\NC-OUT. It contains the project folder. The name of a project is equal to the name of its folder.
Before milling on the Brain Xpert or Cercon brain expert
milling unit, the milling process must be enabled there.
29
In case of problems
The project folder contains the object folders. The names
of the objects are not very meaningful, because the objects
are designed for direct processing in the programs. Object
folders rarely have to be deleted by operators.
The illustrations in the object folder may be helpful in identifying the right object. The pictures of the blank are named
Screenshot_MillStatus.jpg. This JPEG images can be displayed directly in Windows Explorer (e.g. by double-clicking).
30
Fascination
GB
Last revision: 07/2013
Prosthetics
DeguDent GmbH
Rodenbacher Chaussee 4
63457 Hanau-Wolfgang
Germany
www.degudent.com