The rate of 3D Systems' acquisitions (16 in 2011) raised some eyebrows with regard to the task facing the company's management team. In late 2001, 3D Systems began an acquisitions program that expanded the company's technology through ownership of software, materials, printers, and printable content, as well as access to the skills of engineers and designers.
These industries remain key followers of 3D Systems' technology. Engineers in transportation, healthcare, and consumer products helped fuel early phases of 3D Systems' rapid prototyping research and development. In 1996, the introduction of solid-state lasers permitted Hull and his team to reformulate their materials. Primary issues concerned hydrodynamic and chemical complications. Early SLA systems were complex and costly, and required extensive redesign before achieving commercial viability.
The innovation of SLA reduced these resource expenditures while increasing the quality and accuracy of the resulting model. Prior to Hull's introduction of SLA rapid prototyping, concept models required extensive time and money to produce. 6 Community involvement and partnershipsģD Systems was founded in Valencia, California by Chuck Hull, the inventor and patent-holder of the first stereolithography (SLA) rapid prototyping system.It is notable within the 3D printing industry for developing stereolithography and the STL file format.Īs of 2020, 3D Systems employed over 2400 people in 25 offices worldwide. The company offers a range of professional- and production-grade 3D printers as well as software, materials, and the online rapid part printing service On Demand. ģD Systems' technologies and services are used in the design, development, and production stages of many industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, dental, entertainment, and durable goods. It uses proprietary processes to fabricate physical objects using input from computer-aided design and manufacturing software, or 3D scanning and 3D sculpting devices. The company creates product concept models, precision and functional prototypes, master patterns for tooling, as well as production parts for direct digital manufacturing. Chuck Hull, the CTO and former president, pioneered stereolithography and obtained a patent for the technology in 1986. 3D Systems, headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a company that engineers, manufactures, and sells 3D printers, 3D printing materials, 3D scanners, and offers a 3D printing service.
0 kommentar(er)
