IMTEC Swiss, a maker of dental implants, has switched to ESPRIT CNC programming software from DP Technology to lower computerized numerical control (CNC) programming time from about six days to less than one day. The ESPRIT CNC software uses solid modeling to automate geometry definition, and simulations of machining operations in action allows programmers to fix problems quickly and to optimize the process. With ESPRIT, the tedium is removed from CNC programming. Spokespeople say synchronizing the disparate operations that were done at the same time was the largest hurdle faced, since various spindles and tools had to be coordinated, which meant wasted time when either a spindle or a turret was identical and the other continued to work. With ESPRIT, users can get a solid model from SolidWorks, import it into ESPRIT, and begin to apply toolpaths to the various features of the part without being required to calculate any coordinates at all. Support engineers from DP Technology and distributor MTTS provided much assistance during implementation, with the result that IMTEC could reduce programming time and troubleshooting of machine tools within a months time. For IMTEC, ESPRIT supports complete machining of a dental implant without any secondary machining operations. Topics covered are such advantages as validation on a computer screen instead of on a machine tool and ESPRIT's knowledge-based machining methods (that automatically organize geometry into features that normally correspond to machine operations, including pockets, islands, bosses, and grooves).