Man DataExport/it

Export

It's useless to acquire, align and convert data if this information can not be sent to other software. The export functions can be used to create files that can then be imported in other software.

OpticalRevEng Dental offers 2 different export types: Manual and Automatic. Manual exports can be used anytime and in any kind of project; Automatic exports are specific to a project. The automatic export's functions can be configured in the Options dialog.

Formats

OpticalRevEng Dental supports the following formats:

• Acquisitions
  • 'Scan' : this export function will create a file (.cri) for every 3D image taken by the scanner and an additional file (.scan) with a data description. It can be used only by OpticalRevEng Dental and all the files need to be kept together.
  • 'ZScan' : this export function saves the same information as the Scan export function, but compressing everything in one single file.
• Meshes
  • 'STL ASCII/Binary' : the STL file format is the most used. Most of the 3D software can read/save STL files. It does not save all the information of the 3D Objects. Colors and the connection between every single face are not saved so two different software can read the same STL file and show different results.
  • 'OFF ASCII/Binary' : the OFF format is a really simple file format as described here [OFF Format]. It keeps more information than the STL format but the binary version may not be readable by all software.
  • 'PLY ASCII/Binary' : the PLY format, as the OFF format, can contain more information about the 3D data but is not so well supported by other software.
  • 'OBJ' : The OBJ format is only ASCII, it can keep the most information about the 3D data, even the color, and is compatible with most software.

If maximum compatibility is needed, the best format to use is the STL. If the objective is to keep the most accurate 3D data, the OBJ format is better.

Manual Export

There are two ways to save the Acquisitions and the Meshes on disk.

Single Object Export

To export a single element from the project:

1. Right click on the element in the Project Tree
2. Select Export.. from the Context Menu
3. From the dialog that will pop up, select where to save the file, its name and format for the data.

Multi Object Export

To export more than one element of the project in the same file:

1. Select from the Project Tree all the data that have to be exported together
2. From the File menu, select the Export Visible function
3. From the dialog that will pop up, select where to save the file, its name and format for the data.

Automatic Export

To use the automatic export function, click on the Export To CAD button in the Main Toolbar. The software will then export all the project data, according to the current project.

Prosthesis Project

When starting the Prosthesis Export, the software will first check that all the meshes are ready to be exported and all the implants have been aligned to the implant library. Then, it will look for an export folder and an export base name:

• If the project has been created by Exocad, the export folder will be the one created by the Exocad DentalDB and the name will be the Exocad project name
• If the project has been manually created by the user, the software will show a dialog to choose where to export and the export name will be the same as the folder name

Then, the system will export all the surfaces as meshes and, if working with Exocad, the implants position in the .implantPos format. </br> To allow Exocad and other CAD systems to recognize the exported surfaces, all the files will follow the same name scheme:

[Project Name]-[Object Name]-[Object Attribute].[File Format]

So for example:

Project: 3 Element bridge over 2 implants on the upper jaw with separated gingiva and antagonist
Project Name : 2099-13-32-0001-002
Files:
2099-13-32-0001-002-upperjaw.stl 
2099-13-32-0001-002-15.implantPos
2099-13-32-0001-002-17.implantPos
2099-13-32-0001-002-upperjaw-gingiva.stl
2099-13-32-0001-002-lowerjaw.stl

Orthodontic/Scheletric/Impression Projects

For other kinds of project, the export is easier because there are only 2 files to export, one for each jaw. Choose in the Options where and how to export the data for every project type. It is possible to choose:

1. An export folder: selecting an export folder, all the exported files will be automatically saved in the chosen folder; if not, the software will export the data in the Scan Project folder
2. A file name format: chooses how the software will create the file names

Final transformation

While working with 3D Objects, it's necessary to give some spacial references. The scanner system uses the following references:

Z Axis -> Occlusion Direction (Upwards)

X Axis -> Coronal Direction (From Left To Right)

Y Axis -> Sagittal Direction (From Back To Front)

Other software may use different references. To better integrate data with other systems we provide, in the Options, a Final Transformation, a movement that will be applied to all the project data together, just before the export. Therefore, it is possible to adapt the spacial references to the chosen CAD system, without changing the way OpticalRevEng Dental works.

For example, some orthodontic software need the occlusion axis to be the Y Axis. In this case, select Occlusion On Y in the Orthodontic Options page.