3D Systems

Infobox Company
company_name = 3D Systems Corporation
company_
company_type = Public nasdaq|TDSC
foundation = Valencia, California, USA 1986
location = Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
key_people = Abe Reichental, President and CEO
Chuck Hull, Co-Founder and CTO
products = 3D Printers
Stereolithography Systems
Sintering Systems
Engineered Materials

slogan = Experience the Difference (prior to 2007: Transform Your Products)
num_employees = 400+ [http://www.3dsystems.com/newsevents/pressroom/backgrounder.asp]
homepage = http://www.3dsystems.com/

3D Systems, headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a maker of rapid prototyping machines, notable for developing stereolithography and the STL file format.

History

Founded in 1986 by Chuck Hull, with the invention of the first stereolithography rapid prototyping system, 3D Systems is a global company that develops and sells solid imaging solutions – systems, materials and software. Its products reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing without tooling. The systems generate product concept models, precision and functional prototypes, master patterns for tooling, and end-use 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. [ [http://www.3dsystems.com/company/index.asp Company | About 3D Systems ] ]

Technology

3D Systems manufacture 3D printers, SLA systems and SLS systems.

*3D modelers or printers take digital input from three-dimensional data and creates solid, three-dimensional parts through an additive, layer-by-layer process. 3D printing 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.

*Stereolithography or SLA systems convert proprietary materials and composites into solid cross-sections, layer by layer, until three-dimensional parts are built. An ultraviolet laser 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 prototypes, patterns or end-use parts of versatile sizes and applications.

*Selective laser sintering or SLS systems use high-temperature laser to melt and fuse, or sinter, 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 printing, stereolithography and sintering. [ [http://www.3dsystems.com/newsevents/pressroom/backgrounder.asp News & Events | Press Room - Corporate Management Background ] ]

Facilities & 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’ 80,000 square feet are R&D laboratories and an 18,000-square-foot Rapid Manufacturing Center (RMC) with 3D Systems’ rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing and 3D printing systems at work. [ [http://www.3dsystems.com/newsevents/newsreleases/pr-Jan_17_2007b.asp NEWS: pr-Jan. 17, 2007 ] ]

3D Systems opened a 17,000-square-foot training center, 3D Systems University, in partnership York Technical College to train prospective and existing customers. [ [http://www.yorktech.com/3dsystems 3D Systems Courses ] ]

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 patents. [ [http://www.3dsystems.com/company/patents/index.asp Company | Patents ] ]

References

ee also

*Direct digital manufacturing
*Rapid prototyping
*Stereolithography
*Selective laser sintering
*3D printing
*Desktop manufacturing
*Chuck Hull

External links

* [http://www.3dsystems.com 3D Systems Web site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFtwW26VsiA “3D Systems RMC Tour” YouTube video]
* [http://www.modelin3d.com V-Flash Web site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3-2OeFweVQ “How does V-Flash work” YouTube video]
* [http://www.yorktech.com/3dsystems 3D Systems University]
* [http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=TDSC Yahoo! Finance]