SprintRay Pro 3D Printer

Product Overview The SprintRay Pro is a cutting-edge dental 3D printer offering high-precision printing, fast throughput, and support for over 15 dental workflows. Designed with clinical usability in mind, it features a 385 nm light source, advanced resin management, and a robust onboard touchscreen interface.

UX Designer Role As Principal UX Designer, I led the end-to-end user experience strategy for the Pro—from initial research and conceptual design to implementation and iteration. My role bridged industrial design, software interface design, and hardware usability to ensure a seamless clinical workflow.

Challenges & UX Solutions

1. Software-to-Hardware Transition

The challenge: Dental professionals often experienced a disconnect between the desktop-based design software and the physical printer, resulting in print errors and workflow inefficiencies.

The solution: We introduced a real-time print preview on the printer’s onboard touchscreen that displays a thumbnail image of the print, along with metadata like material, print time, and layer resolution. This ensured users could visually confirm the print job sent from the software, reducing errors and boosting confidence.

Impact:

• Increased trust in print accuracy

• Eliminated file mismatch errors

• Streamlined chair side workflows

  
  

  

2. Usability in Clinical Environments

The challenge: Dental clinics require sterile, intuitive equipment that minimizes cognitive load and physical interaction.

The solution: We designed a large 12" glass touchscreen that is easy to clean and navigate. The UI was built on Android OS with large touch targets, high-contrast labeling, and simplified workflows for common tasks like loading resin, starting prints, and tracking job progress.

3. Material & Job Management

The challenge: Managing resin types, tray usage, and job queues was previously error-prone.

The solution: We integrated RFID-enabled resin tanks and trays, allowing the printer to auto-detect materials and prevent mismatches. Barcode scanning enabled faster job identification and material prep. Each resin tank contains an RFID chip that is read by the printer to ensure the assigned material is correct and has not expired. Additionally, the printer checks multiple conditions before initiating a print, such as verifying that the tank is properly inserted and in good condition, that the printer lid is securely closed, and that internal temperatures are within the optimal operating range.

These checks provide layers of validation that reinforce print success and protect against common user errors.

Resin Tank Status

4. Iterative Testing & Deployment

Process: We ran usability testing with dentists and lab technicians at multiple stages. Feedback was incorporated into prototype iterations and continuously deployed through over-the-air software updates.

Outcomes

• Enabled sub-10-minute full arch print workflows

• Increased in-office production confidence and autonomy

• Contributed to SprintRay's reputation as a leader in user-friendly dental 3D printing
  

Takeaways

• Hardware/software integration is critical for professional tools

• On-device confirmation builds user confidence

• Clinical empathy drives interface and industrial design decisions
  

This project demonstrated how thoughtful UX leadership can simplify complex workflows and elevate technical tools into trusted, intuitive products for specialized environments.