I’m honored to introduce this edition of Voices AMplified, which features two pioneers in 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM). In fact, Voices AMplified might not exist if not for the father of 3D printing Chuck Hull and co-inventor of selective laser sintering (SLS) Joe Beaman.
Among his credits, Hull made two of the most significant contributions that advanced the viability of 3D-printing technology. He established the STL file format, which is widely accepted for defining 3D images in printing software, and he established the digital slicing and in-fill strategies common in most 3D-printing processes. Hull obtained U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330, which was filed in August 1984, for an “Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography.” During the past 40 years, his numerous accomplishments have amassed like 3D-printing layers—and he isn’t done yet.
Neither is Beaman. In the 1980s, along with University of Texas at Austin graduate student Carl Deckard, Beaman coined the term “solid freeform fabrication,” a manufacturing technology that produces freeform solid objects directly from a computer model without part-specific tooling. Deckard went on to pursue the concept for his doctoral research, and under the guidance (and in the laboratory) of his academic advisor Beaman, developed what became known as SLS. Realizing SLS’s commercial potential, the two filed for patents, sought funding and founded a company. But that was only the beginning.
Without trailblazers such as Hull and Beaman, many of us in additive manufacturing might not be able to achieve new levels of innovation and success. Their technologies have evolved over the years and infiltrated nearly every industry, including automotive, aerospace, medical, sporting goods and even fashion.
In the medical 3D-printing field, my area of expertise, hospitals and manufacturers use these processes along with other technologies and equipment to fabricate anatomical medical models for surgical planning, surgical guides, implants, molds, prosthetics, assistive devices, dental devices and simulators for provider education. Due to the complexity of the human body, 3D printing is a natural fit for producing anatomical structures. These technologies, along with reconstruction software for CT and MRI scans, have enabled the field to print exact replicas of patients’ anatomy, including undercuts and features not conducive to traditional manufacturing.
The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has utilized digital technology in conjunction with 3D printing to provide medical-specific models and devices for more than 20 years, providing military professionals the opportunity to use a truly revolutionary technology. This asset, in conjunction with collaboration 3D MAC has with departments across the hospital and U.S. Department of Defense, directly impacts the quality of life for our nation’s wounded warriors and their families.
We’re truly appreciative of innovators such as Hull and Beaman, and the technology legacy they created and shared with the manufacturing field.
