Weblinks
Occasionally, RapidTech finds great links that may be helpful to learn more about rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing. We hope you find this information useful:
ADDITIVE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
Arcam
The Electron Beam Melting procees is capable of producing dense objects in final materials such as stainless steel. The process is similar to SLS, but use an electron beam in a vacuum as the energy source rather than a laser.
Dimension
This is a division of Stratasys dedicated to selling a low-cost 3D printer line based on the company’s FDM technology.
EnvisionTec
The company produces the Perfactory® system which uses photopolymers and deformable mirror devices (DMD’s) for layerwise imaging. They also produce the BioplotterTM, a system to build 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. This machine is based on hypodermic dispensing of a curing material into a liquid medium.
EOS
EOS is Europe’s largest RP system provider.
EX One
The ProMetal division of ExOne Co. provides both rapid tooling and low volume components fabricated directly in steel. The company is a licensee of the 3DP process from MIT. The ProMetal RCT (Rapid Casting Technology) Division is developing the S15 system for large sand casting and core applications. The system works in a manner similar to the MIT Three Dimensional Printing process, but creates patterns up to 59 x 29 x 29 inches, weighing up to several tons. The technology was developed and initially commercialized by Generis GmbH.
Fab@Home
An open-source project to design, develop and manufacture an inexpensive syringe-based additive fabrication machine and related software. The components to build the device can be had for as little as US$2,500, and a variety of materials can be used for building, from silicone to chocolate. The project is led from Cornell University, but there are participants from all over the world.
Objet
Offers the PolyJetTM process based on depositing photopolymer with a wide area inkjet head. Curing is layer by layer using UV exposure. Undercuts and overhangs are supported by a second, wash-away photopolymer. The company is also the first to introduce machines that can deposit two materials simultaneously.
Optomec
Commercialization of the Laser Engineered Net Shaping process (TM) (LENS ®) developed at Sandia. LENS ® and Laser Enginered Net Shaping (TM) are registered trademarks of Sandia National Labs. and Sandia Corp. The company’s tradename for the technology is the Direct Metal Deposition SystemTM (DMDSTM).
RepRap
RepRap Stands for replicating rapid-prototyper. It’s an open-source 3D printer design project headed by Adrian Bowyer at the University of Bath (UK). RepRap is intended to make plastic, ceramic, and metal parts, and eventually to have the ability to make copies of itself. The technology is based on multi-axis robotic deposition of filamentary material, similar to fused deposition modeling. The parts cost is said to be on the order of US$400.
Sintermask Technologies
(Formerly Speed Part AB) has developed a powder-based technology similar to selective laser sintering. The process uses heat from infrared lamps to sinter entire layers of plastic powder with a single exposure through a mask printed on a glass plate.
Solidscape, Inc.
Provides high resolution inkjet systems with a single jet each for build and support materials.
Soligen
Direct Shell Production Casting. Mainly operates as a service bureau for the investment casting market through its Parts Now division. Soligen is a licensee of the 3DP process from MIT.
Stratasys
The company sells equipment based on its proprietary FDM technology.
Voxeljet
The company is a successor to Generis GmbH and continues to develop additive manufacturing-based sand casting technologies and manufacture components and sub-systems. Voxeljet is also developing additional rapid prototyping technologies addressing other market segments.
Z Corporation
Targeted mainly at the concept modeling market. The company offers the only commercially available color RP system, and also produces a low-cost machine in the $20,000 range. Z Corp. is a licensee of MIT’s 3DP process.
ADDITIVE FABRICATION RAW MATERIALS SUPPLIERS
DSM Somos
Manufactures photopolymers. Acquired DuPont SOMOS line of photopolymers.
Huntsman
Huntsman purchased Vantico in July, 2003. RenShape is the trade name for the company’s RP and tooling materials. [A bit of evolutionary history: Years ago Vantico was originally Ciba Speciality Chemicals which acquired the AlliedSignal photopolymer line and also Avecia's Stereocol line of photopolymers, including materials that produce color models. As Vantico, it formerly sold its products exclusively through 3D Systems. Huntsman now sells directly to customers except in Japan.]
