History of 3D Printing

Hideo Kodama of Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute publishes the first account of a working photopolymer rapid prototyping system.

Charles Hull (founder of 3D systems) invents stereolithography (SLA) – which is patented in 1987. The technology allows you to take a 3D model and use a laser to etch it into a special liquid(photopolymer).

Stratasys produces the world’s first FDM (fused deposition modelling) machine. This technology uses plastic and an extruder to deposit layers on a print bed.

3D systems produce the first SLA 3D Printer machine.

Model Maker’s wax printer is released.

Scientists manage to grow organs from patient’s cells and use a 3D printed scaffold to support them.

The first multicolour 3D printer made by Z Corp.

The first desktop 3D printer made by Solidimension.

A 3D printed minature kidney is manufactured. Scientists aim to produce full-sized, working organs.

The Reprap project is founded by Dr Adrian Bowyer at the University of Bath. The project was intended as a democratization of 3D printing technology.

The Reprap Darwin is the first 3D printer to be able to produce many of it’s own parts.

The first 3D prosthetic leg is produced.

Makerbot’s Thingiverse launches – a website for free 3D (and other models) file sharing.

Makerbot produces a Reprap evolved kit for a wider audience.

The first 3D printed blood vessel is produced by Organovo.

The first 3D printed car (Urbee by Kor Ecologic).

The first 3D printed jaw is produced in Holland by LayerWise.