Model Printing in exocad: choosing a digital analog library
When an implant case leaves the scanner for the lab, the technician needs a physical model on which the crown or bridge seats as precisely as it does in the mouth. That job falls to the digital analog and the Model Printing library — a set of geometries exocad uses to build a precise socket for the implant lab analog in the printed model.
If you search for *model printing library exocad*, you almost always land on the Atlantis abutment Model Printing series from Dentsply Sirona — the largest category of its kind in the catalog. Below we break down what this library does, how it works in Model Creator, and how to pick the right version for a specific connection.
What a digital analog library is
A digital analog (model analog) is the digital description of the implant lab analog: the part the technician inserts into the printed model in place of the implant itself. The analog mirrors the connection interface, so a restoration designed in CAD seats accurately on the printed model.
A digital analog library contains the geometry of the analog itself and of the socket that holds it. Without it, exocad has no way of knowing what shape the recess in the model should be, how tight the fit needs to be, or how to orient the connection relative to the scan. That is exactly why the library is tied not to an abstract model but to a specific implant system.
How Model Printing works in exocad Model Creator
Model printing in exocad is driven by the Model Creator module. It builds the base, the removable gingival mask and — for implant cases — the analog socket. The Model Printing library defines the shape of that socket: diameter, depth, anti-rotation features and the friction that holds the analog in the printed model.
The output is an STL ready to print on a lab 3D printer. After printing, the technician inserts the physical analog into the prepared socket and works on the restoration with a tangible model — checking contacts, the gingival profile and framework fit.
Unlike implant libraries for crown design, the Model Printing series is tuned specifically for printing: the geometry is optimized for printer tolerances and a repeatable analog fit.
Why the library is tied to the implant connection
Each Model Printing version corresponds to a specific interface, because the analog mirrors the system's connection. The Atlantis abutment Model Printing series from Dentsply Sirona covers dozens of such interfaces — from proprietary lines to third-party platforms.
For common systems, matching a version is easy: there are libraries for Straumann Bone Level and Straumann BLX, for Nobel Biocare NobelReplace and Brånemark, plus Dentsply Sirona Ankylos, EV and Xive.
Popular Korean and budget platforms are covered separately:
- Neodent GM and Straumann Standard
- MIS C1, MIS Seven, MIS V3
- BioHorizons Internal and Biomet3i Certain
- Zimmer Screw-Vent, Camlog Screw-line and Osstem TS
All of these versions load into exocad DentalCAD as separate libraries — they are available in the DentalLibs catalog, where the exocad Implant section holds 1058 libraries.
How to choose a digital analog library for your system
Start from the same connection you have in your project. If you model the crown on Neodent GM, then the Model Printing version must be for GM too — that way the analog and printed model match the CAD project.
The selection order is simple: identify the implant brand, then the exact line and connection (for example Ankylos, not just "Dentsply Sirona"), and only then look for the Model Printing version for that specific interface. Confirm the platform diameter (NP/RP/WP) from the case sheet — specific fit values are not listed in the catalog descriptions, so rely on the manufacturer's data.
Model Printing in exocad and planning in RealGUIDE
It is worth distinguishing what the libraries are for. Model Printing and digital analogs are the lab stage — printing the working model. Surgery and guide planning live in a different set: the Straumann, Zimmer Biomet, DENTIS and Biotech Dental libraries for RealGUIDE contain implant 3D models and guided surgery elements, not the geometry of printed analogs.
In the catalog, the RealGUIDE section holds 187 libraries and they address the planning task, while Model Printing from exocad Implant handles the physical model. A single case can use both sets: planning first, then printing the model with an analog for the same system.
Frequently asked questions about Model Printing libraries
How does a Model Printing library differ from a regular implant library?
A regular library is for designing the crown or abutment, while Model Printing defines the geometry of the socket for the digital analog in the printed model. These are different stages of the same case.
Do I need a separate library for each connection?
Yes. The analog mirrors the system interface, so the Model Printing version is chosen strictly for the connection — Straumann BLX, Neodent GM, Ankylos and so on.
Can I print an implant model without a digital analog?
No. Without an analog library, Model Creator cannot build a correct socket, and the physical analog fit will be inaccurate.
Where do I get Atlantis Model Printing libraries?
They are available in the DentalLibs catalog under exocad Implant, as separate files for each interface, and load into exocad DentalCAD.