Stereolithography

Learn about this technology...

For additional information about stereolithography and other RP systems available
in Japan, visit the Japanese Association of the Rapid Prototyping Industry web site.
Most pages are in Japanese, but specs can often be understood.

3D Systems World's first commercial manufacturer of rapid prototyping systems.

Also see the company's separate web-site for the V-Flash^TM Desktop Modeler. This is a next-generation photopolymer-based technology which is said by the company have many of the properties of stereolithography. The first machine based on the technology was introduced in September, 2007 at a price of US$9,900.

Autostrade RP Systems (Japan) Manufactures the E-Darts^TM low-cost stereolithography system.

Beijing Yinhua Laser Rapid Prototypes Making and Mould Technology Co., Ltd. (China) Also makes both multi-functional laminated object manufacturing and fused deposition modeling machines, and dedicated FDM and LOM machines. (In Chinese and English.)

Chubnippon Ind. Co. Ltd. The company introduced a stereolithography system called the Wizaray in late 2003 at a price of approximately $10,000. This is currently the lowest price in the world for any additive RP system. (in Japanese)

CMET (Japan) CMET was founded by Mitsubishi, but was purchased in 2001 by Teijin Seiki which melded it with their other RP operations. (In Japanese.)

D-MEC (Japan) D-MEC was founded by Sony and Japan Synthetic Rubber Corp. (JSR). Much of the development work has been carried out in Singapore. The company is proceeding on its own after the exit of Sony from the RP marketplace. It also acts as a service bureau.

Denken Engineering (Japan) Bench-top stereolithography. [In June, 2001, the company introduced a system using refrigerative stereolithography technology developed by the University of Tokyo Design Engineering Lab. Supports aren't needed because each layer of photopolymer is solidified by freezing.]

F&S Stereolithographietechnik GmbH (Germany) The company's recent emphasis is to provide stereolithography systems for university and industrial laboratories engaged in process research. F&S, and its offshoot ReaLizer GmbH, also provide selective laser melting systems marketed by MCP-HEK Tooling GmbH (In German and English.)

Meiko (Japan) Targeted at the jewelry market. Meiko's main web site is www.meiko-inc.co.jp, but is almost entirely in Japanese.

Shanghai Union Technology Co., Ltd. (China) Also known as UnionTech. The company makes a range of stereolithography systems and is said to be working on a machine to sell in the $25,000 range. (In Chinese.)

Next Factory (Italy) Sells the DigitalWax series of photopolymer-based machines aimed at jewelry and related markets. The company's web-site is quite Spartan, but more detail can be had at Unimatic Engineers Ltd.'s web-site.

Unirapid, Inc. (Japan) Formerly Ushio. (In Japanese)

Wuhan Benha Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd. (China) Also makes selective laser sintering and laminated object manufacturing equipment. (In Chinese.)