3D Systems
Encyclopedia
3D Systems, headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina
, is a maker of rapid prototyping
machines, notable for developing stereolithography
and the STL
file format.
, with the invention of the first stereolithography
rapid prototyping
system, 3D Systems is a global company that develops and sells systems, materials, and software for solid imaging. Its products are meant to make manufacturing processes more efficient, without requiring tooling. 3D Systems creates product concept models, precision and functional prototype
s, master patterns for tooling, as well as production parts for direct digital manufacturing.
Their 3D printing
, rapid prototyping
and rapid manufacturing technologies use proprietary processes to fabricate physical objects using input from computer-aided design
and manufacturing software, or 3D scanning
and sculpting devices.
and SLS systems
.
, stereolithography
and sintering
.
, rapid manufacturing and 3D printing
systems at work.
3D Systems opened a 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) training center, 3D Systems University, in partnership York Technical College to train prospective and existing customers.
With customers in 80 countries, 3D Systems has 400 employees in offices around the world, including France
, Germany
, Italy
, Switzerland
, United Kingdom
, China
and Japan
. The company has more than 359 U.S. and foreign patent
s.
On 31 August 2009, 3D Systems acquired the key assets of Desktop Factory.
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
, is a maker of rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
machines, notable for developing stereolithography
Stereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
and the STL
STL (file format)
STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. This file format is supported by many other software packages; it is widely used for rapid prototyping and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three dimensional...
file format.
History
Founded in 1986 by Chuck HullChuck Hull
Chuck Hull is the co-founder, executive vice president and chief technology officer of 3D Systems. He is the inventor of the solid imaging process known as stereolithography, the first commercial rapid prototyping technology, and the STL file format. He is the inventor on more than 60 U.S...
, with the invention of the first stereolithography
Stereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
system, 3D Systems is a global company that develops and sells systems, materials, and software for solid imaging. Its products are meant to make manufacturing processes more efficient, without requiring tooling. 3D Systems creates product concept models, precision and functional prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s, master patterns for tooling, as well as production parts for direct digital manufacturing.
Their 3D printing
3D printing
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable, and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. However, the term 3D printing is...
, rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
and rapid manufacturing technologies use proprietary processes to fabricate physical objects using input from computer-aided design
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
and manufacturing software, or 3D scanning
3D scanner
A 3D scanner is a device that analyzes a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly its appearance . The collected data can then be used to construct digital, three dimensional models....
and sculpting devices.
Technology
3D Systems manufacture 3D printers, SLA systemsStereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
and SLS systems
Selective laser sintering
Selective laser sintering is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic, metal , ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape...
.
- 3D modelers or printers take digital input from three-dimensional data and creates solid, three-dimensional parts through an additiveAdditive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing is defined by ASTM as the "process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, such as traditional machining...
, layer-by-layer process. 3D printing3D printing3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable, and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. However, the term 3D printing is...
is used extensively by designers during concept development and early product design to accelerate the design process and improve the quality of the final product.
- StereolithographyStereolithographyStereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
or SLA systems convert proprietary materials and composites into solid cross-sections, layer by layer, until three-dimensional parts are built. An ultravioletUltravioletUltraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
laserLaserA laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
cures a liquid resin layer by layer to build highly accurate parts. SLA systems rapidly manufacture parts of different geometries at the same time and are designed to produce prototypePrototypeA prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s, patterns or end-use parts of versatile sizes and applications.
- Selective laser sinteringSelective laser sinteringSelective laser sintering is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic, metal , ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape...
or SLS systems use high-temperature laser to melt and fuse, or sinterSinteringSintering is a method used to create objects from powders. It is based on atomic diffusion. Diffusion occurs in any material above absolute zero, but it occurs much faster at higher temperatures. In most sintering processes, the powdered material is held in a mold and then heated to a temperature...
, powdered plastics or metal into solid cross-sections, layer by layer, until three-dimensional parts are complete. SLS systems have integrated powder delivery/recycling, part-building and finishing capability as complete rapid manufacturing systems. The systems enable productive, direct rapid manufacturing of durable and tough three-dimensional parts that have versatile sizes and applications.
Applications
A number of industries, including automotive, aerospace, consumer appliance and electronics, toys and entertainment, and medical, use 3D printing3D printing
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable, and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. However, the term 3D printing is...
, stereolithography
Stereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
and sintering
Selective laser sintering
Selective laser sintering is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic, metal , ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape...
.
Facilities and employees
In 2006, the company consolidated its offices, operations, and research and development functions into a new global headquarters in Rock Hill, SC, USA. About half of the headquarters’ 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) are R&D laboratories and an 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) Rapid Manufacturing Center (RMC) with 3D Systems’ rapid prototypingRapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
, rapid manufacturing and 3D printing
3D printing
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable, and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. However, the term 3D printing is...
systems at work.
3D Systems opened a 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) training center, 3D Systems University, in partnership York Technical College to train prospective and existing customers.
With customers in 80 countries, 3D Systems has 400 employees in offices around the world, including France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The company has more than 359 U.S. and foreign patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s.
On 31 August 2009, 3D Systems acquired the key assets of Desktop Factory.