Dental Mills Compared

UP3D vs DEPRAG vs iMES iCORE: dental milling machines compared for 2026

Three brands stocked at USDD — UP3D (Asian value), DEPRAG (German workhorse), iMES iCORE (German premium automation). We carry, install, and service all three. Here's how to pick.

3
Brands compared
All
Stocked U.S.
5-axis
All models
1 number
To call for service
USDD's pick

DEPRAG W5 Pro

The all-around recommendation for most labs
DEPRAG W5 Pro — USDD's most-recommended mill
Why featured: Best balance of price, capability and parts availability
Materials: Everything — zirconia to titanium
Audience: 70% of labs we sell to
By brand

UP3D, DEPRAG and iMES iCORE milling — three brands compared head-to-head

Each card below is the brand's most-popular hero. Click through to the dedicated landing page for the full lineup.

UP3D P55D

UP3D P55D

UP3D's flagship — Asian value pricing, solid 5-axis, popular in growing clinics.
Brand: UP3D (CN)
Position: Value tier
Price band: $$
Request pricing
DEPRAG W5 Pro

DEPRAG W5 Pro

USDD's most-recommended mill. German engineering, wet/dry, all materials. The 'just buy this' option.
Brand: DEPRAG (DE)
Position: Workhorse premium
Price band: $$$
Request pricing
CORiTEC 250i Loader PRO

CORiTEC 250i Loader PRO

iMES iCORE's automation flagship — 100k rpm spindle, 7-blank loader. Top-shelf German precision.
Brand: iMES iCORE (DE)
Position: Premium automation
Price band: $$$$
Request pricing

Need help picking the right model?

Specs side by side

UP3D P55D vs DEPRAG W5 Pro vs CORiTEC 250i: Dental Mill Specs Compared

Featured column is the DEPRAG W5 Pro — USDD's all-purpose recommendation.

UP3D P55DDEPRAG W5 ProCORiTEC 250i Loader PRO
OriginChinaGermanyGermany
Axes5-axis simultaneous5-axis simultaneous5-axis simultaneous
Spindle~60,000 rpm60,000 rpm, 1 kW100,000 rpm
TypeDry / hybridWet & dryWet & dry + loader
Blank changer7-pos auto
MaterialsZirconia, PMMAAll incl. titaniumAll incl. titanium
Price band$$$$$$$$$
USDD pick forBudget-first labsMost labs24/7 automation labs

Still not sure which brand fits? Get a 30-min remote consult with our milling team.

Honest trade-offs

UP3D vs DEPRAG vs iMES iCORE Pros and Trade-offs

What you actually get with each brand — from USDD techs who service all three in the field.

UP3D

Pros
  • Lowest acquisition cost of the three
  • Solid 5-axis for the price
  • Good ROI for budget-first labs
Trade-offs
  • Parts lead times longer if not USDD-stocked
  • Less material breadth than DEPRAG/iMES
  • Software ecosystem less mature

DEPRAG

Pros
  • Best price-to-capability balance
  • U.S. parts inventory at USDD
  • Mills literally every dental material
  • 16-position tool changer standard
Trade-offs
  • German pricing — premium vs Asian alternatives
  • No factory automation on W5 Pro (need W5 Max)
  • Wet/dry switching takes ~10 min

iMES iCORE

Pros
  • Top spindle speed in the comparison (100k rpm)
  • Factory automation built-in (7-blank loader)
  • Lowest-vibration mono-block construction
  • iCAM HD CAM software is best-in-class
Trade-offs
  • Highest acquisition cost
  • iCAM has a steeper learning curve
  • Justification only if volume supports the price
By scenario

Which Mill Brand Should You Buy? 6 Common Scenarios

Real picks based on the practice profiles we see most often.

Budget-first solo lab
Zirconia only, occasional PMMA
UP3D delivers 5-axis at the lowest entry. Skip wet capability you won't use.
→ UP3D P55D
Growing 5-15 case/day lab
Mixed materials, no automation needed yet
DEPRAG W5 Pro is the sweet spot — buy this if you're not sure.
→ DEPRAG W5 Pro
Multi-material premium lab
Titanium abutments, glass ceramics, zirconia
100k rpm spindle on titanium + mono-block stability on glass ceramics = CORiTEC.
→ CORiTEC 250i Loader PRO
24/7 production lab
Lights-out milling, 25+ cases/day
Automation pays back fast at this volume. CORiTEC 250i Loader PRO or DEPRAG W5 Max.
→ CORiTEC 250i Loader PRO
Chairside / single chair
Same-day crowns, footprint matters
Smallest viable: DEPRAG W4 desktop or CORiTEC One. Skip the big mills.
→ DEPRAG W4
DSO standardizing across offices
Same workflow, parts, training across N locations
DEPRAG W5 Pro across all locations — same operator training, same USDD service number.
→ DEPRAG W5 Pro fleet
USDD advantage

Why Buy Dental Milling from US Dental Depot

U.S. stock, U.S. support, U.S. service — plus financing, training and parts inventory under one roof.

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All 3 brands stocked U.S.

USDD warehouses UP3D, DEPRAG and iMES iCORE in Florida. 2-3 week installs, no overseas wait.

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One number for service

Service techs trained on all three brands. One phone call regardless of which mill needs attention.

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Honest brand-neutral advice

USDD sells all three, so we recommend based on your actual fit — not on which brand we're trying to push that month.

Ready to pick your milling brand?

Send us your case volume, material mix and budget — we'll recommend the right brand and model.