HeyGears UltraCraft ChairSide Pro

Figure 1: The ChairSide Pro is one tall boi

Disclaimer:

This is a personal and individual opinion on the HeyGears UltraCraft ChairSide Pro. HeyGears nor any of its global distributors have not been involved in the writing or editing of this piece and have not restricted any conclusions made by myself of this product.

Notable features:

• Large physical footprint and robust print volume
• Requires professional physical set up
• Great fitting, precise and accurate prints completed quickly
• Heavy build plate and vat result in clunkier physical handling
• Closed resin library that is open to some popular exceptions
• Perforated build plate sucks to clean
• Noisy operation
• Nifty and affordable design service that covers most bases

Basics:

Printer size	55.6 x 36.3 x 75.4cm
Weight	275 bananas*
Technology	DLP
Print volume	Std plate: 14.4 x 8.1 x 11cm Mini plate: 7.3 x 6 x 11cm
Slicer	HeyGears Cloud
XY resolution	37.5 µm
Price guide	US$8000-9000

* 1 banana = 0.15kg

Figure 2: Open sesame! The ChairSide Pro comes with two doors that open wide

Set up:

Setting up the ChairSide Pro is not the most straightforward due to its bulk. It usually requires some sort of professional installation.

Levelling is factory-performed, and once the unit is put in place and set up, operation is pretty easy. I never encountered issues connecting to Wi-Fii and sending jobs over the internet.

Figure 3: The printer is built like a truck and so are its accessories. Thicc and solidly built

Software:

Like the ChairSide, the ChairSide Pro uses HeyGears Cloud – a cloud-based platform to nest, support and slice objects. It is pretty straightforward to navigate but graphically it’s not winning any prizes. I found it pretty “clicky” to find which resin and settings to use as different layer settings for the same resin are selectable as different options.

Moreover, there’s no way to “go back” or undo a mistake during the nesting and slicing process which means if you screw up, you go back right to the start. In addition, if you want to print multiple copies of the same object, there’s no way to do this in the cloud-based slicer. You basically need to copy and paste the file under a different name in the folder before uploading your files. Frustrating.

Default support settings and object orientation is surprisingly good. The software will generally know what objects require supports and those that don’t. You can manually edit support settings and add/remove supports, but I found this process once again, a little “clicky”.

As long as your PC and ChairSide Pro are connected to the internet (can be different networks), you can send the sliced print file directly to the printer wirelessly. It’s a simple drag and drop process but you will need someone to physically start the print.

Figure 4: HeyGears Cloud – it’s uggs, but it works

Resin library:

The resin library for ChairSide Pro is closed. However it is open to some popular exceptions – Saremco Crowntec, KeySplint Soft, KeySplint Hard, Rodin Sculpture, Rodin Sculpture 2.0 and Rodin Titan.

Basically users will have access to everything they need for pretty much any printable dental application.

Figure 5: A row of KeySplint Soft nightguards being printed

The printing experience:

The ChairSide Pro has innate heating and humidity controls. The printer itself is unfortunately quite noisy during operation which prevents it from being used in front of patients.

Print time is quite fast due to the perforated build plate which allows for reduced peel forces (improving print success) and reduced delay time in between layers. Models orientated horizontally and positioned direct to the build plate will take around 25-35 minutes to print at 100 micron layers

I did find quite obvious voxel lines depicted on models printed on the ChairSide Pro – probably not clinically relevant but it was surprising. Thankfully aligners, retainers and mouthguards made based off these models fit perfectly.

There is also an optional mini build plate which is surprisingly heavy. With this plate, restorations can be printed in as short as 15-20 minutes (Crowntec at 100 micron layers). Print quality of restorations has been honestly fantastic.  

Figure 6: Printed Crowntec eggshell temporaries – honestly fantastic results that IMHO are better than some of the more expensive dental DLP 3D printers in the market

Probably my biggest gripe with the experience was how heavy the parts were to handle and how challenging it is to clean a perforated build plate. Unless you have access to a large and powerful wash unit, it is basically impossible to clean the build plate satisfactorily in between prints.

Figure 7: I dislike perforated build plates – great for print speed and success, but very difficult to clean

Conclusion:

Honestly, as long as its not being used in front of patients, the ChairSide Pro is a gem. It just works well and the printed results speak for themselves.  As with many Chinese-manufactured hardware, the focus is certainly on brawn and functionality rather than beauty and finesse. If users don’t mind not needing to keep up with the latest trends and just want a machine that works well and lasts ages, then this is your guy.  Just make sure you have a large enough wash unit to clean that hefty build platform.

3 points why you should get it:

• Solid and professional build quality – this thing is build like a tank and will last the ages
• Overall excellent print quality at a decently fast speed
• Design service and print management in the same online cloud-based portal

3 points why you shouldn’t get it:

• Large footprint and noisy operation prevents use while patients are around
• Heavy parts and accessories
• Perforated build plate is difficult to clean without a large wash unit