Responses: Considering purchase of cadcam/scanner and milling systems
James Beggs
Description
Collection
Title:
Responses: Considering purchase of cadcam/scanner and milling systems
Creator:
James Beggs
Date:
9/27/2018
Text:
Aside from a number of requests to share responses, then responses I
received are listed below. unfortunately I didn't get a lot of
encouragement in terms of investing in this technology, which is pretty
disappointing. I wanted to point out that we are, in fact, wanting to do
both orthotics and prosthetics, and we are high volume orthotics, moderate
volume prosthetics.
The issue is we are going to be losing our senior tech in a year or so,
he's been talking about retiring. And this particular area has troubles
getting people to move here - we are right at the mexican border in texas,
and it is not a desirable place to live, so people aren't willing to move
here.
Which is why we are looking for technology as an alternative solution, but
there seems to be a lot of caution in the responses below, which concerns
me. In any case, here are the responses relevant to the question:
*****
Mr. Beggs,
May I suggest starting off with a very affordable pre-owned carver and
scanner? The significant financial investment for new equipment would
be difficult for a seasoned user much less a beginner. Conversely,
with used equipment you could get started off easily with minimum risk.
Then later, after work flow gets established, you'd be in a much better
position to justify new equipment.
That is exactly how it worked out for a company in FL I sold some used
carvers and scanners to.
Dean Chapman
*****
iPad Structure scanner with DigiScan app is the way to go. Doesn’t sound
like you are ready for the rest of the digital world though. Find print
houses that will do the back end until you learn enough to make a decision
to dive in.
Follow Brent Wright on linked in if you want to get informed. He is top of
the heap and you can learn a lot from what he posts.
*****
Hey James Doug Taylor CP retired.
I worked on one of the first CADCAM systems in the US
It was great to be able to reduce a socket globally.
But making a great model was imperative, because we scanned
the plaster mold. The main trouble about laser acquisition of the
patient is not know how much to modify and where.
Silicone liners were my saving grace, because they pre-tensioned
the residual limb before casting. I had little time to use CADCAM.
Be careful not to over burden yourself with technology. The learning
curve is very time consuming. As for digital printing technology, it was
rapid prototyping in my day. The plastics used are not strong enough
to support patient weight.
On the other hand I had a filament winder and made my own carbon
pylons and adapters.
Doug Taylor
*****
You need to have a high volume of patients to make it worth while....If not
I would not purchase the CAM part...
VB
*****
James A. Beggs
received are listed below. unfortunately I didn't get a lot of
encouragement in terms of investing in this technology, which is pretty
disappointing. I wanted to point out that we are, in fact, wanting to do
both orthotics and prosthetics, and we are high volume orthotics, moderate
volume prosthetics.
The issue is we are going to be losing our senior tech in a year or so,
he's been talking about retiring. And this particular area has troubles
getting people to move here - we are right at the mexican border in texas,
and it is not a desirable place to live, so people aren't willing to move
here.
Which is why we are looking for technology as an alternative solution, but
there seems to be a lot of caution in the responses below, which concerns
me. In any case, here are the responses relevant to the question:
*****
Mr. Beggs,
May I suggest starting off with a very affordable pre-owned carver and
scanner? The significant financial investment for new equipment would
be difficult for a seasoned user much less a beginner. Conversely,
with used equipment you could get started off easily with minimum risk.
Then later, after work flow gets established, you'd be in a much better
position to justify new equipment.
That is exactly how it worked out for a company in FL I sold some used
carvers and scanners to.
Dean Chapman
*****
iPad Structure scanner with DigiScan app is the way to go. Doesn’t sound
like you are ready for the rest of the digital world though. Find print
houses that will do the back end until you learn enough to make a decision
to dive in.
Follow Brent Wright on linked in if you want to get informed. He is top of
the heap and you can learn a lot from what he posts.
*****
Hey James Doug Taylor CP retired.
I worked on one of the first CADCAM systems in the US
It was great to be able to reduce a socket globally.
But making a great model was imperative, because we scanned
the plaster mold. The main trouble about laser acquisition of the
patient is not know how much to modify and where.
Silicone liners were my saving grace, because they pre-tensioned
the residual limb before casting. I had little time to use CADCAM.
Be careful not to over burden yourself with technology. The learning
curve is very time consuming. As for digital printing technology, it was
rapid prototyping in my day. The plastics used are not strong enough
to support patient weight.
On the other hand I had a filament winder and made my own carbon
pylons and adapters.
Doug Taylor
*****
You need to have a high volume of patients to make it worth while....If not
I would not purchase the CAM part...
VB
*****
James A. Beggs
Citation
James Beggs, “Responses: Considering purchase of cadcam/scanner and milling systems,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/209159.
