November 1999 in the Rapid Prototyping Report
Selective laser sintering parts used directly in spacecraft production --
There's been much discussion lately about whether rapid prototyping
technologies will ever be capable of making real products instead of only
concept models or prototypes. Recently, a project conducted by NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, demonstrated that, for
at least some applications, the era of direct rapid manufacturing might
already have arrived.
Magics Communicator -- Materialise of Belgium has just introduced a new
product called Magics Communicator. Besides STL visualization, Magics
Communicator also allows users to share data and conference in real time
over the Internet.
SolidView and SolidView/Lite -- Solid Concepts is another rapid prototyping
company chasing the viewer market. Recently it introduced a free version of
its software called SolidView/Lite.
Professional fabbing at home? -- It's interesting to speculate on the
various directions in which rapid prototyping might evolve. In the second in
a series of articles about the possible future of rapid prototyping, we ask
Marshall Burns to make a case for home use of rapid prototyping.
How Popular Is 3D CAD? -- When people try to estimate the potential market
for rapid prototyping, they naturally look to the use of three--dimensional
CAD modeling systems. In principle, many people who design products in a 3D
CAD package should be candidates for either purchasing a rapid prototyping
machine or buying parts from a rapid prototyping service. But how many
companies really design products using three--dimensional CAD software?
Patent news -- Proctor and Gamble announced that it has donated the patents
and accompanying intellectual property related to its PHAST (Prototype Hard
And Soft Tooling) technology to the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Ciba SL-7510 for SLA-3500 and SLA-5000 -- 3D Systems has announced that
Cibatool SL-7510, a multipurpose resin originally designed for use with its
SLA-7000, is now available for use in the SLA-3500 and SLA-5000
stereolithography systems. Interestingly, however, the material produces
parts with different physical properties on the different machines.
Rapid Prototyping Directory -- We are updating listings for the 2000 Rapid
Prototyping Directory. Listings are free to all rapid prototyping service
bureaus, educational institutions with rapid prototyping curricula, rapid
prototyping consultants, and manufacturers of rapid prototyping materials
and equipment.
Business news
3D Systems announces third-quarter loss and new operating plan.
DTM reports third quarter profits.
Stratasys announces record third-quarter revenues and profits.
Calendar of events -- Advanced Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing 2000,
Symposium and Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia.
Geoff Smith-Moritz
Editor
Rapid Prototyping Report
CAD/CAM Publishing, Inc,
1010 Turquoise Street, Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92109 U.S.A.
Telephone: (858) 488 0533 FAX: (858) 488-6052
Web site: www.cadcamnet.com
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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