---
title: Keystone KeyGuide
slug: materials/keystone-keyguide
description: Explore the essential guide for using Keystone KeyGuide resin with Carbon printers, including preparation, printing tips, and support methods.
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-07-19T19:14:20.047Z
---
# Overview
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**Keystone KeyGuide™ **is available by Keystone Industries® to produce surgical guides. The material is a rigid, biocompatible resin and is ideal for fast production.
This course will cover the digital prep of your guides to properly prepare them for printing.
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This resin is not currently compatible with the [AO Polishing Cassette](docId\:iFFh3q8-WLk-LIqr87bd5).
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## Resource Links
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**[About the Material](https://www.carbon3d.com/materials/keyguide)**
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**[Manufacturer Instructions for Use ](https://keyprint.keystoneindustries.com/keyguide/)**
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**[Safety Data Sheet](https://keyprint.keystoneindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/KeyGuide-4220001-4200001-US-SDS-20230417.pdf)**
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## Protocol
This downloadable handout provides important usage information, including instructions about storage and post-processing. Print it out and bring it into the lab!
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This protocol is applicable to the following resin dropdowns:
- **Keystone KeyGuide**
- **Zirlux Surgical Guide**
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**English**
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::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/xcOI3p6O5jO0MVhoHv9rO-wTUi5_Rf7SIe9s-9Ud03e-20240919-100929.pdf" label="Keystone KeyPrint KeyGuide Protocol v01.03.pdf"}
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**German/Deutsch**
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::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/uXbZOKjJTGpPhjapQ8fvM-L-0HM2JQuQVCvQatDQYap-20241217-011137.pdf" label="KeyPrint KeyGuide Protokoll v01.03 REL_DE.pdf"}
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**Spanish/Español**
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::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/uXbZOKjJTGpPhjapQ8fvM-F-Ox3zrTJ7jxQU4safmxg-20241217-011114.pdf" label="KeyPrint KeyGuide Protocolo v01.03 REL_ES.pdf"}
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### Dental Post-Processing Grids
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One of our most popular downloads! This table provides washing and curing instructions for all supported dental resins.
Print it and use it in the lab as a quick reference.
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**English**
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::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/3CesIL2dYMCHPZvRjp8S0/vQ2WsRger2d-CoLrn-m5f_dental-post-processing-grids-v0501.pdf" label="Dental-Post-Processing-Grids_v0501.pdf"}
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**German/Deutsch**
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::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/uXbZOKjJTGpPhjapQ8fvM-seBSLAiWUzNDRI1GCLlop-20241125-214312.pdf" label="ZAHNÄRZTLICHES NACHBEARBEITUNGSGITTER v03.71 DE Deutsch.pdf"}
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**Spanish/Español**
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::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/uXbZOKjJTGpPhjapQ8fvM-2i0UhzOfuA4aYJFusL1v2-20241203-180542.pdf" label="Rejilla de Posprocesamiento Dental v03.71 ES Espanol Spanish.pdf"}
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## Performance Qualification Certificate
Download the certificate [here](https://docs.carbon3d.com/files/technical-data-sheets/pq-certificate_carbon-m2-m3_keyguide.pdf).
# General Orientation & Support Information
## Hide the Platform
Use **Toggle platform** (or press **B**) to hide the platform before orienting parts. This will make it easier to see overhangs and place supports.
## Use Patch and Fence tools to create supports
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### Patch tool
- The [Patch tool](docId\:VUbpoAitbLM11aM9-qJ1p) speeds up support creation by automatically supporting an area with just a few clicks. It is useful for supporting **larger areas** of overhang that would take longer to support manually.
- It is often useful to support your parts with this tool **before **manually adding supports.
::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/v1741914725/Education/Materials/dental/__General_Use/standard-support-menu-patch.png" size="50" width="208" height="73" position="flex-start" showCaption="false"}
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### Fence tool
- [Fence supports](docId\:VUbpoAitbLM11aM9-qJ1p) are manually placed by the user and are best suited on **linear overhangs **or smaller areas.
- Fences provide stability while leaving smaller nubs than the default Bars option.
::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/v1741914724/Education/Materials/dental/__General_Use/standard-support-menu-fence.png" size="50" width="214" height="77" position="flex-start" showCaption="false"}
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Review [Supports](docId\:VUbpoAitbLM11aM9-qJ1p) in [Printer UI](docId\:oId4ZNZtZYeltTPVJ984a) course for more information.
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# Arch & Full Palate
## Orienting
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Arches and full palates should be rotated **40 degrees** with the **anterior **of the guide rotated away from the platform.
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### Workflow
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1\. Click on **Orient** or **Shift + O** in the top bar in the printer interface.
2\. In the lower right corner of the bottom bar, turn on **Overhang Detection** or **V key** and set to **40 degrees. **Areas that need support will appear **red.**
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3\. Orient the model so that the **intaglio surface is facing the platform. **
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4\. Adjust the model so that it is **mostly parallel with the platform**.
5\. Rotate the surgical guide so that the anterior is at a **40 degree angle** from the platform.
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## Supporting
### Strategy
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**Fence Placement**
- Along the guide perimeter.
- Around drill holes.
- On important features such as articulators.
- 2 rows of fences are recommended on features wider than 3 mm.
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**Fence Free Zones**
- Intaglio surfaces
- Interior of drill holes.
- Interior of windows.
- Any critical surfaces.
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### Check Critical Surfaces
Before creating supports, check the critical surfaces of your part to ensure that supports will not be needed. Overhang Detection will show surfaces that may need supports by coloring them red.
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1. Click on the **Overhang Detection (V)** tool at the bottom of the screen to activate it.
2. Leave the default value at **40 degrees**.
3. Click the **Toggle Platform (B)** tool to hide the platform for unobstructed viewing of the underside of the model.
4. Check **critical areas**, especially inside drill holes, to make sure those surfaces do not require supports.
- Some intaglio surfaces will be red. But these areas will not require supports.
5. If critical areas are red, tilt up the part slightly **1 - 3 degrees** and recheck.
6. Repeat until critical areas are free of red.
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### Enter Support Mode and Select Fence
Surgical guides require precise placement of supports. Because of this, we recommend manually adding **fence **supports.
Fences are ideal for supporting surgical guides of all types (arches, full palettes and quads):
- Easy to remove.
- Contact points are small and require little finishing.
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**Do not use Automatic supports. This mode will cover a large portion of the intaglio surfaces, which will result in an unusable part.**
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1. Click **Support** in the dark gray bar at the top of screen.
2. Under **Position**, select **Above Platform** to lift parts off the platform.
3. Under the **Manual tab** select **Fence.**
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### Support Perimeter
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1. Click a **series of points **along the entire perimeter of the arch.
- Carbon recommends using a **single, long fence** for easier removal.
- A sequence of 2 or more short fences is acceptable.
- Use **Overhang Detection** to find areas that need support.
- To move points, click **Esc **key then hold down **E** key. Click on a point and move it to a new location.
2. Repeat as needed to add additional fences.
3. Click **Generate** to create the fence geometry.
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### Additional Supports
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Continue adding fence supports to these features:
- **bars**
- **wide areas** (offset from perimeter fence by 2 - 4 mm)
- **articulators**
- any other critical features.
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Ensure that the following surfaces are **free from fences**:
- Intaglio surfaces
- Interior of drill holes
- Interior of windows
- Any critical surfaces
# Quad
## Orienting
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Either end (posterior or anterior) of the quad should be rotated **40 degrees** off of the platform.
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### Workflow
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1\. Click on **Orient** or **Shift + O** in the top bar in the printer interface.
2\. In the lower right corner of the bottom bar, turn on **Overhang Detection** or **V key** and set to **40 degrees. **Areas that need support will appear **red.**
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3\. Orient the quad so that the **intaglio surface is facing the platform. **
4\. Adjust the quad so that it is **mostly parallel with the platform**.
5\. Make sure that the **quad is parallel with the left/right sides of the platform**.
6\. Rotate the quad so that it is at a **40 degree angle** from the platform.
Either the anterior or posterior of the quad can be rotated off of the platform.
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## Supporting
### Check Critical Surfaces
Before creating supports, check the critical surfaces of your part to ensure that supports will not be needed. Overhang Detection will show surfaces that may need supports by coloring them red.
### Supporting Quads
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1\. Support entire **perimeter of quad** with fence supports.
- We recommend using a single, long fence for easier removal.
- A sequence of 2 or more short fences is acceptable.
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2\. Create **secondary lines of fences** on wide areas.
- Offset from perimeter fence by **2-4 mm **where possible.
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3\. Support **other critical features**.
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Ensure that the following surfaces are **free from fences**:
- intaglio surfaces
- interior of drill holes
- interior of windows
- any critical surfaces
# Properly Oriented and Supported Surgical Guides
- Intaglio surfaces facing platform.
- Supported above platform.
- Fences around part boundary.
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## Arch/Full Palate
Rotated **40 degrees** with posterior tilted towards platform.
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## Quad
Rotated **40 degrees** with either anterior or posterior tilted towards platform.
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# Nesting
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1. Select the **Layout tab**** (Shift + L)** in the top menu bar.
2. Under **Auto Layout,** select **Gen2.**
- Gen2 usually gives the most effecient packing for dental devices.
3. Enter at least **1 mm** in **Padding.**
- Models require a minimum of 1 mm of space between them.
4. Leave **Optimize starting rotation** unchecked.
- This leaves your parts in their previous orientations.
5. Leave **Allowed rotations** at the default setting.
- This gives the software maximum flexibility to fit the most possible parts on the build platform.
6. Press the **Auto Layout** button to arrange your parts.
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If necessary, nesting can be changed manually:
- Click and drag parts to adjust their position.
- Modify Z rotation by using the **Spin **tool or manual rotations under the **Orient tab** **(Shift + O).**
- Use the **Part List tab **as needed to more easily select models and focus on them.
# Print Preparation
## Print Controls
Click **Print Controls** or **Shift + P** in the top menu bar.
### Slicing
Slice Thickness should be **Standard (100 µ)**.
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**Reducing the slice thickness by choosing the Fine (50 µ) or Super-fine (25 µ) settings will increase print time and may reduce part quality and accuracy.**
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## Project Analysis
1. Select the **Project Analysis** tab.
2. Click **Start Analysis** and wait for the processing to complete.
1. Note the required resin volume and print time.
3. Click **Add to Queue.**
# Manufacturer Instructions for Use
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**[Manufacturer Instructions for Use ](https://keyprint.keystoneindustries.com/keyguide/)**
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# Questions & Support
**For questions about the resin properties, printing, washing or curing your parts, please contact the KeyStone support team:**
- Email: customerservice\@keystoneind.com
- Phone:
- U.S. and Canada 1-800-333-3131
- EU +49 77 31 91 21 01
For questions about your **Carbon printer** or **Carbon software settings** used for this resin, please [contact Carbon](https://learn.carbon3d.com/carbon-support):
- Email: [support@carbon3d.com](mailto\:support@carbon3d.com)
- Phone:
- **U.S. and Canada** 1-650-285-6307 option 2
- **Germany** +49 6102 5790849
- **UK **+44 (0) 2082 647484
- Printer UI: On the dashboard, select the **Prints** tab. **Select one of the printed projects.** Click **Request Help** in the lower right corner.
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