In-office custom orthotic production for podiatry and O&P practices. Predictable cost: $10–$12 per pair.
Apex V2 is a belt-based orthotic 3D printer built for in-office fabrication—run production after hours without dedicating staff time.
An orthotic 3D printer is a clinic-focused production system for manufacturing patient-specific orthotic insoles from digital prescriptions. It is purpose-built for podiatry and O&P workflows, not hobby-grade general printing.
Capture foot geometry and clinical landmarks with your standard capture workflow. Validate scan quality before design starts to reduce rework.
Build the prescribed orthotic in OrthoCAD and export the production-ready file. Standardized design templates help maintain repeatability across clinicians.
Queue files to Apex V2 for orthotic TPU production. Continuous belt operation supports unattended runs across evenings and weekends.
Perform support removal and edge finishing based on clinic quality standards. Final checks ensure fit, geometry, and surface readiness for dispensing.
Fit the orthotic to the patient, verify comfort and function, then document any adjustments. In-office dispensing shortens turnaround and follow-up cycles.
| Capability | Apex V2 | Generic FDM | CNC Milling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator-free | Yes, designed for unattended queued production | Limited; manual clearing is commonly required | No; setup and changeover are typically operator-managed |
| Continuous production | Continuous belt ejection supports ongoing job queues | Discrete plate-based print cycles | Discrete part-by-part milling cycles |
| TPU optimized | Yes, tuned for orthotic TPU workflows | Variable consistency depending on tuning and oversight | Not TPU-print based |
| Setup labor | Low after initial setup and validation | Moderate to high with frequent intervention | Moderate to high for setup, fixturing, and toolpath prep |
| Unit cost predictability | High for repeat clinic orthotic runs | Medium; labor and reprint variance can fluctuate | Medium; setup and material variance can fluctuate |
| Clinic workflow fit | Built for podiatry and O&P in-office workflows | General-purpose platform adapted to clinic use | Best aligned with dedicated milling workflows |
| Turnaround speed | Hours for most clinic production cycles | Hours to days depending on supervision and queue flow | Hours with operator-managed setup and handling |
Apex V2 — $1,500. Belt-based orthotic production system for in-office use.
OrthoCAD — $1,500/year. Design and export for the printer.
Vertex TPU filaments and PP-CF for rigid shells. See materials section.
Scan or cast → design in orthotic CAD software (OrthoCAD) → export → print on Apex V2. Post-process as needed. Turnaround in hours, not days.
Materials cost: $10–$12 per pair. Monthly savings = (Your current outsource cost per pair − material cost) × pairs. Your current outsource cost per pair: _____ (plug in your number). ROI is affected by labor savings, reprint rate, and turnaround gains.
Example below uses $11/pair midpoint.
| Volume | Materials (example $11/pair) | OrthoCAD amortized/mo | Printer amortized (12 mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 pairs/mo | $220 | $125 | $125 |
| 50 pairs/mo | $550 | $125 | $125 |
| 100 pairs/mo | $1,100 | $125 | $125 |
The Apex V2 belt printer is the orthotic production system for high-throughput in-office fabrication. PP-CF shells use a separate Cartesian workflow and material for rigid orthotic components.
| System | Use |
|---|---|
| Belt printer (Apex V2) | Orthotic production, high throughput |
| PP-CF (Cartesian) | Rigid shell components |
3D printing builds layer by layer; CNC mills from a blank. Both produce custom orthotics. For cost and workflow comparison, see 3D printing vs CNC milling for orthotics.
| Apex V2 (TPU insoles) | CNC milling (EVA) | Cartesian PP-CF shells | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per pair | $10–$12 materials | Varies | Varies |
| Throughput | 8–20 pairs/24h | Varies | Lower |
| Labor | Operator-free | Manual blank changes | Manual plate changes |
| Best use | In-house TPU insoles | EVA blocks, high volume | Rigid shells only |
| Reprint speed | Hours | Hours | Hours |
| Feel/comfort | TPU cushioning | EVA firm | Rigid |
Mid-volume practice. Reduced outsourcing; turnaround in hours. Consistent fit and materials cost.
In-house TPU insoles. Operator-free overnight runs. Predictable cost per pair.
Central production hub. Batch workflow; reduced shipping and lead time.
See it in action
OrthoCAD — orthotic CAD software for in-office design. 3D printing vs CNC milling for orthotics — cost and workflow comparison. Products — full equipment catalog.
