exocad and 3Shape STL handoff: what to confirm before outsourcing milling
Prepare a manufacturing handoff from exocad or 3Shape: export scope, supplier-specific requirements, supporting records and approved file versions.
The name of the CAD system does not complete the manufacturing specification. The handoff needs an approved file, relevant records and supplier acceptance.
When your lab designs in exocad or 3Shape, ask the milling center for its current requirements before exporting a production order. This guide addresses the handoff, not software menu instructions or certification of compatibility with every version and module.
Confirm the export you are sending
Tell the recipient whether the files represent scans, a designed restoration, a model or an appliance. Use the export supported by your licensed workflow and verify the actual contents before submission.
Do not assume an STL carries every decision the receiving team needs. Keep the prescription, material request, relevant records and delivery instructions associated with the order. The exact supporting package depends on the product and agreed review scope.
Ask for supplier-specific manufacturing requirements
Some milling centers publish explicit STL and design requirements.[1] Those instructions illustrate why a provider-specific handoff matters; they are not interchangeable settings for PROCA or every machine and material.
Ask which parameters need to be checked for the proposed product. Avoid copying a generic cement-space value, tool radius or minimum geometry from an unrelated process. Confirm the material and manufacturing constraints with the responsible technical team.
Do not confuse format compatibility with case acceptance
A file extension may be readable while the design still requires review. The receiving team needs to determine whether the proposed geometry and scope can be accepted.
For implant-related work, identify the components and relevant library information. Confirm exactly which part of the manufacturing workflow is being requested. An STL handoff does not establish authorization or capability to machine every implant interface.
Keep the approved version unmistakable
Use a consistent case ID, product description and revision. A practical naming pattern might be LAB-024-crown-r03-approved.stl, with the corresponding approval stored in the order.
When a change is made, record the superseded file and the newly approved version. Avoid sending several files marked “final” without explaining their relationship.
A pre-release checklist
| Check | Confirmation needed |
|---|---|
| Correct object | The file contains the restoration or appliance intended for manufacture |
| Relevant records | Supporting information is complete for the agreed review |
| Material | Product and intended scope are identified |
| Version | The exact production file is authorized |
| Supplier requirements | Current requirements have been reviewed, not assumed |
| Change authority | A named contact can resolve manufacturing questions |
| Delivery state | The receiving lab knows what work remains |
These checks organize responsibility. They do not replace the supplier's actual technical review or the clinician's role.
Discuss your handoff with PROCA
Describe your CAD workflow, product type and available export. Request the current submission specification for the proposed material and manufacturing scope. Obtain acceptance before treating the upload as a production commitment.
Are exocad or 3Shape integrations being promised here?
No. This article discusses file-based coordination. Native integrations, supported versions and automated connections must be verified separately.
Should a supplier alter the design without approval?
Agree on that authority explicitly. A proposed change affecting the accepted specification should be recorded and approved through the defined process.
Plan your next step
Zirconia milling · Night guard order checklist · Request a workflow review
Alien Milling — How to Send a Case. https://www.alienmilling.com/pages/how-to-send-a-case (accessed: 2026-09-09). ↩︎
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