| Year |
US Patent No. |
Title |
Inventor |
Assignee or Resulting Commercial Entity |
Technology Area |
| 1. Historically important |
| 1892 |
0473901 |
Manufacture of contour relief maps |
Blanther; J.E. |
None |
- |
| 1902 |
0774549 |
Photographic process for the production of plastic objects |
Baese; Carlo |
None |
- |
| 1956 |
2775758 |
Photo-Glyph Recording |
Munz, Otto John |
none |
- |
| 1976 |
3932923 |
Method of generating and constructing three-dimensional bodies |
DiMatteo; Paul L. |
Dynell Electronics Corporation |
reverse engineering and CNC RP |
| 1977 |
4041476 |
Method, medium and apparatus for producing three-dimensional figure product |
Swainson; Wyn Kelly . |
Formigraphic Engine Corporation |
stereolithography variant and predecessor |
| 1981 |
4247508 |
Molding process |
Housholder; Ross F. |
Hico Western Products Co. . |
predecessor to selective laser sintering (SLS) and RP in general |
| 1982 |
4323756 |
Method for fabricating articles by sequential layer deposition |
Brown; Clyde O. ; Breinan; Edward M. ; Kear; Bernard H. |
United Technologies Corporation |
weld deposition |
| 2. Basic technology patents |
| 1982 |
4323756 |
Method for fabricating articles by sequential layer deposition |
Brown; Clyde O.; Breinan; Edward M.; Kear; Bernard H. |
United Technologies Corporation |
Deposition from wire feedstock into an energy beam |
| 1986 |
4575330 |
Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography |
Hull; Charles W. |
UVP, Inc. licensed to 3D Systems, Inc. |
stereolithography |
| 1987 |
4665492 |
Computer automated manufacturing process and system |
Masters; William E., Easley |
BPM, Inc. |
ballistic particle manufacturing (BPM) [inkjet-based] |
| 1988 |
4752352 |
Apparatus and method for forming an integral object from laminations |
Feygin; Michael |
Helisys, Inc. succeeded by Cubic Technologies, Inc. |
laminated object manufacturing (LOM) |
| 1988 |
4752498 |
Method and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by photosolidification |
Fudim; Efrem V. |
Light Sculpting, Inc. |
Design Controlled Automatic Fabrication (DesCAF) [photopolymer exposed through a mask] |
| 1988 |
4775092 |
Method and apparatus for building a workpiece by deposit welding |
Edmonds; David P. ; McAninch; Michael D. |
Babcock & Wilcox Company |
shape melting [weld deposition] |
| 1989 |
4863538 |
Method and apparatus for producing parts by selective sintering |
Deckard; Carl R. |
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System licensed to DTM, Inc. subsequently acquired by 3D Systems |
selective laser sintering (SLS) |
| 1990 |
4961154 |
Three dimensional modelling apparatus |
Pomerantz; Itzchak, Cohen-Sabban; Joseph, Bieber; Avigdor, Kamir; Josef, Katz; Mathew, Nagler; Michael |
Scitex Corporation Ltd., (Israel) licensed to Cubital Inc. |
solid ground curing (SGC) |
| 1991 |
5015312 |
Method and apparatus for constructing a three-dimensional surface of predetermined shape and color |
Kinzie; Norman F. |
Licensed or sub-licensed to: Helisys, Cubic Technologies., Kira, Solidimension, 3D Systems |
laminated object manufacturing (LOM) |
| 1991 |
5059266 |
Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional article |
Yamane; Mitsuo, Kawaguchi; Takashi, Kagayama; Shigeru, Higashiyama; Shunichi, Suzuki; Keiko, Sakai; Jun, Imaeda; Mikio, Inaishi; Kouji, Okaza |
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, (Japan) |
jetted photopolymer |
| 1992 |
5088047 |
Automated manufacturing system using thin sections |
Bynum; David K. |
none |
electrophotographic deposition |
| 1992 |
5121329 |
Apparatus and method for creating three-dimensional objects |
Crump; S. Scott |
Stratasys, Inc. |
fused deposition modeling (FDM) |
| 1992 |
5126529 |
Method and apparatus for fabrication of three-dimensional articles by thermal spray deposition |
Weiss; Lee E., Prinz; Fritz R., Gursoz; E. Levent |
Carnegie Mellon University |
masked deposition (MD*) |
| 1992 |
5136515 |
Method and means for constructing three-dimensional articles by particle deposition |
Helinski; Richard |
Licensed to 3D Systems, Inc., Solidscape and other companies. |
inkjet with second support material |
| 1992 |
5141680 |
Thermal stereolithography |
Almquist; Thomas A., Smalley; Dennis R. |
3D Systems, Inc. |
multijet modeling (MJM) [wide area inkjet] |
| 1993 |
5204055 |
Three-dimensional printing techniques |
Sachs; Emanuel M., Haggerty; John S., Cima; Michael J., Williams; Paul A. |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology licensed to Z Corp., Soligen, ProMetal and several other companies. |
three dimensional printing (3DP) [inkjet-bonded build material] |
| 1993 |
5257657 |
Method for producing a free-form solid-phase object from a material in the liquid phase |
Gore; David W. |
Incre, Inc. |
liquid metal jet printing |
| 1994 |
5348693 |
Formation of three dimensional objects and assemblies |
Taylor; Charles S.; Tiffany; William B.; Cherkas; Paul; Frantzen; John J.; Hampton; Hilary J.; Nanis; Leonard; Shah; Bhupendra O. |
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. |
High volume print-forming (HVPF) |
| 1996 |
5506607 |
3-D model maker |
Sanders, Jr.; Royden C., Forsyth; John L., Philbrook; Kempton F. |
Sanders Prototypes Inc. renamed Solidscape, Inc. also licensed to Sanders Design International |
inkjet with second support material |
| 1996 |
5529471 |
Additive fabrication apparatus and method |
Khoshevis; Behrokh |
University of Southern California |
Contour Crafting |
| 1998 |
5786562 |
Method and device for producing three-dimensional bodies |
Larson; Ralf |
Arcam Limited, London, (United Kingdom) |
electron beam melting (EBM) |
| 1998 |
5837960 |
Laser production of articles from powders |
Lewis; Gary K. , Milewski; John O. , Cremers; David A. , Nemec; Ronald B. , Barbe; Michael R. |
Regents of the University of California |
laser powder forming (LPF) |
| 1998 |
5847958 |
Rapidly making a contoured part |
Shaikh; Furgan Zafar , Brogley; Martin Andrew , Burch; Craig Edward , Grab; Gerry A. , Grenkowitz; Robert Walter, Novak; Robert Francis, Rigley; Michael Raymond |
Ford Global Technologies, Inc. |
CNC-based LOM method |
| 2000 |
6027630 |
Method for electrochemical fabrication |
Cohen; Adam L. . |
University of Southern California licensed to Microfabrica |
electrochemical fabrication (EFAB) |
| 2000 |
6046426 |
Method and system for producing complex-shape objects |
Jeantette; Francisco P. ; Keicher; David M. ; Romero; Joseph A. ; Schanwald; Lee P. . |
Sandia Corporation licensed to Optomec |
laser powder forming (LPF) |
| 2000 |
6056843 |
Sheet lamination modeling method and sheet lamination modeling apparatus |
Morita; Satoshi ; Sugiyama; Kazuo |
Kira Corporation (Japan) |
laminated object manufacturing (LOM) with selective bonding |
| 2001 |
6253116 |
Method and apparatus for rapid freezing prototyping |
Zhang; Wei ; Leu; Ming C. ; Ji; Zhiming ; Yan; Yongnian |
New Jersey Institute of Technology |
rapid freeze prototyping (RFP) |
| 2001 |
6316153 |
Free-form fabricaton using multi-photon excitation |
Goodman; Steven L. ; Campagnola; Paul |
University of Connecticut |
stereolithography variant |
| 2002 |
6457629 |
Object consolidation employing friction joining |
White; Dawn |
Solidica, Inc. |
Ultrasonic Consolidation |
| 2003 |
6531086 |
Method and device for manufacturing three-dimensional bodies |
Larsson; Ralf |
Speed Part RP AB (Sweden) |
selective laser sintering (SLS) variant |
| 2003 |
6589471 |
Selective inhibition of bonding of power particles for layered fabrication of 3-D objects |
Khoshnevis; Behrokh |
University of Southern California |
selective inhibition sintering (SIS) |
| 2006 |
6997698 |
Method for creating a 3-D object |
Silverbrook; Kia |
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd |
inkjet with multiple, wide-area heads |
| 2007 |
7261542 |
Apparatus for three dimensional printing using image layers |
Hickerson; Kevin P.; Bedal; Bryan; Diephuis; Richard J. |
Desktop Factory, Inc. |
powder transfer |
| 3. Rapid Tooling
|
| 1989 |
4844144 |
Investment casting utilizing patterns produced by stereolithography |
Murphy; Edward J., Ansel; Robert E., Krajewski; John J. |
DeSoto, Inc. |
- |
| 1995 |
5460851 |
Spray deposition of metals |
Jenkins; Walter N. |
Sprayforming Developments Limited (UK) purchased by Ford |
Sprayforming |
| 1996 |
5562846 |
Method of making a mold part having a cooling passage |
McKeen; W. John |
Northern Telecom Limited (Canada) |
- |
| 1998 |
5718863 |
Spray forming process for producing molds, dies and related tooling |
McHugh; Kevin M. ; Key; James F. |
Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company licensed to RSP, Tooling LLC |
rapid solidification process (RSP) |
| 1998 |
5775402 |
Enhancement of thermal properties of tooling made by solid free form fabrication techniques |
Sachs; Emanuel, Michaels; Steven P., Allen; Samuel M. |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
conformal cooling |
| 1998 |
5793015 |
Apparatus for rapidly forming laminated dies |
Walczyk; Daniel |
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology |
laminated tooling |
| 1999 |
5906781 |
Method of using thermally reversible material to form ceramic molds |
Tobin; James Robert . |
Procter & Gamble Company donated to Milwaukee School of Engineering |
PHAST tooling process |
| 2000 |
6147138 |
Method for manufacturing of parts by a deposition technique |
Hochsmann; Rainer ; Ederer; Ingo |
Generis GmbH (Germany) acquired by ProMetal |
sand casting molds from 3DP-like technoogy |
| 2000 |
6155331 |
Method for use in casting technology |
Langer; Hans ; Wilkening; Christian ; Keller; Peter ; Wendt; Florian . |
EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems (Germany). |
sand casting molds from SLS |
| 4. Important RP technology improvements |
| 1993 |
5247180 |
Stereolithographic apparatus and method of use |
Mitcham; Larry D., Nelson; William E. |
Texas Instruments Incorporated |
stereolithography using deformable mirror device (DMD) exposure |
| 1998 |
5840239 |
Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional objects in stereolithography utilizing a laser exposure system having a diode pumped frequency quadrupled solid state laser |
Partanen; Jouni P. Hug; William F. |
3D Systems, Inc. |
solid state lasers |
| 2000 |
6070107 |
Water soluble rapid prototyping support and mold material |
Lombardi; John Lang ; Popovich; Dragan ; Artz; Gregory John |
Stratasys, Inc. |
- |
| 2001 |
6215093 |
Selective laser sintering at melting temperature |
Meiners; Wilhelm ; Wissenbach; Konrad ; Gasser; Andres |
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V. (Germany) |
- |
| 2006 |
7037382 |
Three-dimensional printer |
Davidson; Thomas; Phillips; Robert A.; Hernandes; Andres T.; Russell; David B.; Roche; Kevin; Zengerle, III; Walter H.; Berlin; Andrew; Kinsley; Joshua P.; Sweet-Block; Benjamin Daniel; Kisai; Darul |
Z Corporation |
three dimensional printing (3DP) [inkjet-bonded build material] |
| 2007 |
7229586 |
Process for tempering rapid prototype parts |
Dunlap; Earl N., Turner; Dennis M.; Lawson; Jack L. |
Commercialized by Par3 LLP. |
- |
| 5. Medical RP Applications |
| 1990 |
4940412 |
Method of manufacturing anatomical models |
Blumenthal; Rafael . |
Elscint Ltd. (Isreal). |
- |
| 1994 |
5370692 |
Rapid, customized bone prosthesis |
Fink; David J.; DiNovo; Salvatore T.; Ward; Thomas J. |
Guild Associates, Inc. |
- |
| 1996 |
5490962 |
Preparation of medical devices by solid free-form fabrication methods |
Cima; Linda G., Cima; Michael J. |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
- |
| 1996 |
5549697 |
Hip joint prostheses and methods for manufacturing the same |
Caldarise; Salvatore |
Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc. |
- |
| 1997 |
5639402 |
Method for fabricating artificial bone implant green parts |
Barlow; Joel W., Lee; Goonhee, Crawford; Richard H., Beaman; Joseph J., Marcus; Harris L., Lagow; Richard J. |
none |
- |
| 1998 |
5823778 |
Imaging method for fabricating dental devices |
Schmitt; Stephen M. , Chance; David A. |
United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force |
- |
| 1999 |
5975893 |
Method and system for incrementally moving teeth |
Chishti; Muhammad ; Lerios; Apostolos ; Freyburger; Brian ; Wirth; Kelsey ; Ridgley; Richard |
Align Technology, Inc. |
- |
| 2000 |
6139574 |
Vascularized tissue regeneration matrices formed by solid free form fabrication techniques |
Vacanti; Joseph P. ; Cima; Linda G. ; Cima; Michael J. . |
Children's Medical Center Corporation ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology . |
- |
| 2001 |
6254639 |
Prosthetic implants |
Peckitt; Ninian |
none |
- |
| 2001 |
6327491 |
Customized surgical fixture |
Franklin; Ronald J. ; Franck; Joel I. ; Haer; Frederick C. |
Neutar, LLC |
- |
| 2002 |
6482234 |
Prosthetic spinal disc |
Weber; Paul J. ; Da Silva; Luiz B. |
Pearl Technology Holdings, LLC |
- |
| 2003 |
6520904 |
Device and method for restructuring heart chamber geometry |
Melvin; David B. |
University of Cincinnati |
- |
| 2005 |
6905738 |
Generation of viable cell active biomaterial patterns by laser transfer |
Ringeisen; Bradley R.; Chrisey; Douglas B.; Pique; Alberto; McGill; R. Andrew |
United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy |
laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) |
| 6. Rapid Manufacturing |
| 1995 |
5433280 |
Fabrication method for rotary bits and bit components and bits and components produced thereby |
Smith; Redd H. |
Baker Hughes Incorporated |
- |
| 1998 |
5728345 |
Method for making an electrode for electrical discharge machining by use of a stereolithography model |
Hlavaty; David Gerard, Ashtiani-Zarandi; Mansour |
General Motors Corporation |
- |
| 1999 |
5997795 |
Processes for forming photonic bandgap structures |
Danforth; Stephen C. ; Safari; Ahmad ; Ballato; John ; Van Weeren; Remco ; Bandyopadhyay; Amit . |
Rutgers University . |
- |
| 2000 |
6095145 |
Prophylactic |
Sadlo; Frank C. |
None |
- |
| 2001 |
6251488 |
Precision spray processes for direct write electronic components |
Miller; W. Doyle ; Keicher; David M. ; Essien; Marcelino |
Optomec Design Company |
- |
| 2001 |
6280771 |
Dosage forms exhibiting multi-phasic release kinetics and methods of manufacture thereof |
Monkhouse; Donald ; Yoo; Jaedeok ; Sherwood; Jill K. ; Cima; Michael J. ; Bornancini; Esteban |
Therics, Inc. ; Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
- |
| 2001 |
6280784 |
Method for rapidly making a 3-D food object |
Yang; Junsheng ; Wu; Liangwei ; Liu; Junhai |
Nanotek Instruments, Inc |
- |
| 2001 |
6287428 |
Mold with integral screen and method for making mold and apparatus and method for using the mold |
Gale; Gregory W. ; Haugen; Jeffrey J. |
Regale Corporation |
- |
| 2001 |
6322728 |
Mass production of dental restorations by solid free-form fabrication methods |
Brodkin; Dmitri ; Panzera; Carlino ; Panzera; Paul |
Jeneric/Pentron, Inc. |
- |
| 2001 |
6326698 |
Semiconductor devices having protective layers thereon through which contact pads are exposed and stereolithographic methods of fabricating such semiconductor devices |
Akram; Salman |
Micron Technology, Inc. |
- |
| 2002 |
6401859 |
Custom-molded ear-plug and process for producing a custom-molded ear-plug device |
Widmer; Christoph ; Hessel; Hans ; Weidmann; Markus |
Phonak AG (Switzerland) |
- |
| 2002 |
6447584 |
Filters employing porous strongly acidic polymers |
Kishkovich; Oleg ; Rezuke; Robert W. ; Kinkhead; Devon |
Extraction Systems, Inc. |
- |
| 2002 |
6471520 |
Model of complex structure and method of making the same |
Herman; Timothy M. ; Gervasi; Vito R. ; Bray; Thomas E. ; Adler; Deborah S. |
Milwaukee School of Engineering |
- |
| 2003 |
6520219 |
Method and apparatus for storing compressed gas |
Shapovalov; Vladimir I. ; Loutfy; Raouf O. |
Materials and Electrochemical Research Corporation |
- |
| 2003 |
6549710 |
Method of making a three dimensional optical circuit |
Simmons; Richard L. ; Shoemaker; Curtis L. ; Kornele; Kenneth L. ; Loder; Harry A. ; Lurie; Edward B. |
3M Innovative Properties Company |
- |
| 2003 |
6553823 |
Model for wind tunnel test |
Omotani; Hideo ; Oyama; Hiroki ; Kobayashi; Masaki |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Japan) |
- |
| 2003 |
6568455 |
Jewelry making method using a rapid prototyping machine |
Zieverink; Robert M. |
None |
- |
| 2006 |
7093542 |
Warhead with integral, direct-manufactured features |
Gousman; Kenneth G.; Van Weelden; Scott D.; Rosenberger; Brian T. |
Lockheed Martin Corporation |
laser powder forming (LPF) |
| Year |
US Patent No. |
Title |
Inventor |
Assignee or Resulting Commercial Entity |
Technology Area |
