DAC Notes
Blenderfordental
Introduction by Antonello Croce
iBar Fundamentals & Mandatory Workflow
This session walks you through the entire mandatory iBar workflow in Blender for Dental. Starting with software installation, you'll learn how to import and align your hybrid, create tubes and cones, draw and extrude the basic design, edit the cutter, block out undercuts, apply the safety zone, and separate and export your finished iBar. By the end, you'll have completed your first professional iBar from scratch.
Introduction, Installation & Blender Setup
00:00:53
Welcome to the DACademy iBar course. The instructor introduces the three modules covered — Model Designer, iBar, and Blockout — and outlines the learning path from scratch to export.
Introduction, Installation & Blender Setup
00:00:53
Welcome to the DACademy iBar course. The instructor introduces the three modules covered — Model Designer, iBar, and Blockout — and outlines the learning path from scratch to export.
Themes, Importing STL & Navigation Essentials
00:06:36
Installing visual themes, importing your hybrid via Model Designer, aligning it to center using the four-point method, and learning the essential keyboard shortcuts — R (rotate), G (grab), S (scale), Ctrl+Z (undo), mouse wheel (rotate/zoom view), and Shift+mouse wheel (translate view).
Themes, Importing STL & Navigation Essentials
00:06:36
Installing visual themes, importing your hybrid via Model Designer, aligning it to center using the four-point method, and learning the essential keyboard shortcuts — R (rotate), G (grab), S (scale), Ctrl+Z (undo), mouse wheel (rotate/zoom view), and Shift+mouse wheel (translate view).
Tubes, Cones & Screw Channel Protection
00:14:29
Starting the iBar module, saving into a dedicated project folder, naming the hybrid, then creating and editing tubes for each screw channel — positioning vertices to protect the screw head, scaling with Ctrl+A, switching between Edit and Object mode with Tab, and generating cones for all selected tubes. Includes saving the Tubes and Cones checkpoint.
Tubes, Cones & Screw Channel Protection
00:14:29
Starting the iBar module, saving into a dedicated project folder, naming the hybrid, then creating and editing tubes for each screw channel — positioning vertices to protect the screw head, scaling with Ctrl+A, switching between Edit and Object mode with Tab, and generating cones for all selected tubes. Includes saving the Tubes and Cones checkpoint.
Basic Design — Drawing, Extruding & Shaping the Bar
00:26:42
Smoothing the mesh and applying mask protection, drawing the outline with E (extrude) and closing with Fuse, making the basic design, setting the extrusion angle from top view, cutting the design to create a parametric bar, then adjusting height, angulation, middle section, and using Relax to fix intersecting vertices. Editing the top and saving.
Basic Design — Drawing, Extruding & Shaping the Bar
00:26:42
Smoothing the mesh and applying mask protection, drawing the outline with E (extrude) and closing with Fuse, making the basic design, setting the extrusion angle from top view, cutting the design to create a parametric bar, then adjusting height, angulation, middle section, and using Relax to fix intersecting vertices. Editing the top and saving.
Cutter Editing & Blockout
00:37:56
Converting the parametric file into a mesh cutter, pushing exterior geometry inside using the view-dependent grab tool, smoothing with DynTopo, then switching to the Blockout module to check and remove undercuts — rotating the cutter to find the insertion path, marking undercuts, and running Create Passive Model.
Cutter Editing & Blockout
00:37:56
Converting the parametric file into a mesh cutter, pushing exterior geometry inside using the view-dependent grab tool, smoothing with DynTopo, then switching to the Blockout module to check and remove undercuts — rotating the cutter to find the insertion path, marking undercuts, and running Create Passive Model.
Safety Zone, Separation & Export
00:46:25
Applying the safety zone for material thickness (default 0.7mm for zirconia), correcting thickness, smoothing, then separating the hybrid with dual-offset adjustment space. Exporting via construction data and STL, using Selection Only for individual object exports. Session recap and encouragement to practice independently.
Safety Zone, Separation & Export
00:46:25
Applying the safety zone for material thickness (default 0.7mm for zirconia), correcting thickness, smoothing, then separating the hybrid with dual-offset adjustment space. Exporting via construction data and STL, using Selection Only for individual object exports. Session recap and encouragement to practice independently.
Additional Tools & Advanced Features
This session explores the optional and additional tools that extend your iBar capabilities. You'll learn how to close screw channels, use the Paint On Layer feature to add or remove material, and navigate Blender's workspace efficiently — including the Outliner, multiple windows, and hide/unhide shortcuts.
Closing Screw Channels & Paint On Layer
00:55:51
Using Additional Tools to select tubes and block holes — closing screw channel openings from the top without affecting the parking side. Then using Paint On Layer to add or remove material with adjustable thickness, unifying, and smoothing while protecting critical geometry.
Closing Screw Channels & Paint On Layer
00:55:51
Using Additional Tools to select tubes and block holes — closing screw channel openings from the top without affecting the parking side. Then using Paint On Layer to add or remove material with adjustable thickness, unifying, and smoothing while protecting critical geometry.
Outliner & Object Visibility Management
00:58:38
Opening split windows, switching a panel to the Outliner view, and understanding the two hiding methods — temporary (H / Alt+H, Eye icon) vs. permanent (Camera icon in Restriction Toggles) — for managing complex scenes.
Outliner & Object Visibility Management
00:58:38
Opening split windows, switching a panel to the Outliner view, and understanding the two hiding methods — temporary (H / Alt+H, Eye icon) vs. permanent (Camera icon in Restriction Toggles) — for managing complex scenes.
Sidebar Tools & Keyboard Shortcuts Overview
01:02:01
Pressing N to toggle the module sidebar, T for the left toolbar (select, cursor, move, rotate, measure), and a reminder that keyboard shortcuts remain the primary workflow method. Resources folder with a complete shortcut list is referenced.
Sidebar Tools & Keyboard Shortcuts Overview
01:02:01
Pressing N to toggle the module sidebar, T for the left toolbar (select, cursor, move, rotate, measure), and a reminder that keyboard shortcuts remain the primary workflow method. Resources folder with a complete shortcut list is referenced.
Multiple Windows — Opening, Working & Closing
01:03:38
Opening additional viewport windows by dragging corners, working with simultaneous views, and the critical technique for closing them without accidentally creating more: Right Click on the window edge > Join Left/Right/Up/Down.
Multiple Windows — Opening, Working & Closing
01:03:38
Opening additional viewport windows by dragging corners, working with simultaneous views, and the critical technique for closing them without accidentally creating more: Right Click on the window edge > Join Left/Right/Up/Down.
Session Wrap-Up & Practice Checkpoint
01:07:38
Encouragement to explore Blender's native tools hands-on — open/close windows, practice hiding shortcuts, set up the Outliner, and toggle the sidebar — before moving into the angled screw channel case.
Session Wrap-Up & Practice Checkpoint
01:07:38
Encouragement to explore Blender's native tools hands-on — open/close windows, practice hiding shortcuts, set up the Outliner, and toggle the sidebar — before moving into the angled screw channel case.
Angled Screw Channels — A Real-World Case
In this final session, you tackle a real-world hybrid with angled screw channels. You'll repeat the full iBar workflow with the added complexity of angling tubes, adding material where channels overlap, and completing the design-to-export pipeline. The session closes with the cross-section inspection tool and guidance on continuing your learning journey.
Importing, Aligning & Creating Tubes for Angled Channels
01:08:58
Importing a new STL with angled screw channels, aligning to center, flipping orientation, saving into a new project folder, starting the iBar module, and making tubes from top view for each channel.
Importing, Aligning & Creating Tubes for Angled Channels
01:08:58
Importing a new STL with angled screw channels, aligning to center, flipping orientation, saving into a new project folder, starting the iBar module, and making tubes from top view for each channel.
Angling Tubes, Making Cones & Adding Material
01:10:52
Editing straight tubes first, then isolating and angling the three angled tubes to match their screw channel directions. Generating cones for all tubes, then using Paint On Layer to add material where two channels share mesh space — unifying and smoothing carefully.
Angling Tubes, Making Cones & Adding Material
01:10:52
Editing straight tubes first, then isolating and angling the three angled tubes to match their screw channel directions. Generating cones for all tubes, then using Paint On Layer to add material where two channels share mesh space — unifying and smoothing carefully.
Basic Design, Cut & Parametric Adjustments (Fast Pass)
01:14:44
A faster repeat of the full design pipeline: drawing the outline, fusing, making basic design, setting angulation with Store Scene Rotation, extruding, cutting the design, angling the bar, relaxing, editing the top, and remeshing into cutter.
Basic Design, Cut & Parametric Adjustments (Fast Pass)
01:14:44
A faster repeat of the full design pipeline: drawing the outline, fusing, making basic design, setting angulation with Store Scene Rotation, extruding, cutting the design, angling the bar, relaxing, editing the top, and remeshing into cutter.
Cutter Editing, Blockout, Safety Zone & Separation
01:19:57
Pulling geometry inside, smoothing with aggressive DynTopo, switching to Blockout for undercut removal, returning for safety zone and thickness correction, and separating the hybrid into the final two-piece result.
Cutter Editing, Blockout, Safety Zone & Separation
01:19:57
Pulling geometry inside, smoothing with aggressive DynTopo, switching to Blockout for undercut removal, returning for safety zone and thickness correction, and separating the hybrid into the final two-piece result.
Cross-Section View & Course Wrap-Up
01:25:09
Using Alt+B to draw a cutting plane and inspect the design internally — a powerful inspection tool for any stage of the workflow. Final recap, encouragement to practice both simple and angled cases, and a teaser for the iBar Mastery course covering iBridge and esthetic zones.
Cross-Section View & Course Wrap-Up
01:25:09
Using Alt+B to draw a cutting plane and inspect the design internally — a powerful inspection tool for any stage of the workflow. Final recap, encouragement to practice both simple and angled cases, and a teaser for the iBar Mastery course covering iBridge and esthetic zones.