3D Systems Corporation

[Editor’s note: This is a continuation of a series started in the last issue of Time Compression that provides information on the various types of additive manufacturing processes.] Laser sintering (LS) is a process that has grown in popularity for making strong plastic parts.

Additive manufacturing (AM) systems that build parts in photopolymer were among the first to emerge in the late 1980s.

A few years ago the world was forever changed, with the buzzwords "point clouds," "surface contours" and "scan density" becoming permanent definitions for the CAD world. What was the catalyst for this change? Lasers. 

Rapid prototyping was the cornerstone behind the creation of a scale replica of the U.S. Capitol Dome and Rotunda.

Besides death and taxes, life can offer another sure thing - change. While it is not exactly a new science to the world of manufacturing, rapid prototyping is considered by many to be an emerging technology still full of surprises. Despite experiencing growing pains, those in the RP industry foresee design engineering, product development and time compression being taken to new places in the time to come.

Cheetah Tool Systems (Waco, TX) developed a revolutionary new riveting system using rapid prototyping to quickly and inexpensively evolve the design.

 Non-contact laser scanning and 3D modeling software is used by researchers to create a 3D model of an ancient statue.

3D Systems (Rock Hill, SC) created DuraForm® PP 100 Plastic, the first polypropylene-based rapid manufacturing material. Developed jointly with TRIAL Corporation of Kanagawa, Japan, DuraForm PP 100 Plastic enables the fast and economical manufacturing of production-quality prototypes and batches of end-use parts.   With its good fatigue and impact resistance and its ability to create living hinges and self-tapping bosses, DuraForm PP 100 Plastic offers the toughness and durability of molded polypropylene but with the processing speed and economical benefits of prototyping; this will make it easier for designers to test their prototypes in more realistic and challenging environments, giving them a better idea of how their final product will look, feel, and perform.

What goes into the planning, engineering and building of the world's fastest and best-designed automobiles?

Embracing RE allows businesses to meet the challenges of product development and survive, but where will RE's options take design engineers and time compression in the near future?

If there is one thing that can be said about rapid prototyping (RP) it’s that the applications tend to be growing. This calls for various types of materials to handle the applications. Cases in point are some new materials from 3D Systems (www.3Dsystems.com).

The resolution of eight lawsuits paves the way for improved competition and a stronger industry. 

RP machines, once considered only for prototyping, are now being used by a few companies for the rapid production of manufactured products. As this idea continues to grow in popularity, companies and RP groups are viewing RP more and more as simply a method for rapid production. However, industry scribes say that the rumors of RP's (rapid prototyping's, that is) immediate demise are greatly exaggerated.