Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence Searchable database with information about how rapid prototyping - and almost any other technology - can be used to advantage. There are numerous descriptions of rapid prototyping programs and case studies within government agencies and industry in the database. The Office of Naval Research funds the BMP program to help enable US defense contractors to lower costs and improve product quality and delivery.

Alabama Industrial Development Training - Huntsville One of the state's advanced technology centers for training, research and business process re-engineering integration. Provides stereolithography services, education and consultation.

Argonne National Laboratory Focuses on development of rapid prototyping of ceramic components and reverse engineering technology through high-resolution X-ray imaging.

Robert C. Byrd Institute The Robert C. Byrd Institute provides manufacturers access to rapid prototyping services, advanced CNC equipment, affordable training initiatives in CAD/CAM/CNC and many other areas. For more information please visit our web site.

Edison Materials Technology Center - EMTEC (Ohio) Promotes development, transfer, and application of the latest technologies in casting. EMTEC focuses on many areas including rapid prototyping, solidification modeling, and reverse engineering.

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory The Rapid Solidification Process (RSP) developed in conjunction with Colorado State University, permits dense, fine resolution tooling to be made from various types of RP master patterns.

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Marshall Space Flight Center acts as a service bureau for NASA and related contractors.

NASA / In Situ Fabrication and Repair (ISFR) This NASA web-page covers fabrication technologies, repair & NDE, and extraterrestrial habitat structures.

NASA - High Pressure and Temperature Fused Deposition System Rapid prototyping for producing functional polymer matrix composition components and ceramics. Appications include biomedical prostheses. Prime contractor Advanced Ceramics Research has set up a service bureau to provide access to the process. Additional Info.

National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) The Rapid Prototyping Technology Advancement Program (RPTA) has been in operation for several years. The mission is to advance the use and development of RP technologies through collaborations among users and suppliers. Among the particpants have been Baxter Healthcare, Texas Instruments, Pratt & Whitney, Eastman Kodak, Laserform, NASA and AlliedSignal. The program has collaborated with or purchased equipment from 3D Systems, DTM Corp, Stratasys, Z-Corp, Imageware, Helisys, Solidscape, Soligen, Georgia Tech., and MIT.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons division, China Lake, CA provides rapid prototyping services using laminated object manufacturing and fused deposition modeling.

Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division NUWC Newport, RI has two stereolithography systems providing rapid prototyping services internally for the US Navy.

Sandia National Laboratories (Research and Development) The organization is developing several RP processes. The most commercially advanced is Laser Engineered Net Shaping (TM) [LENS ®] being brought to market by Optomec. In addition, a variant of LENS that uses material in wire form called the WireFeed (TM) process is under development, as is a ceramic material forming process called RoboCasting (TM). (All are registered trade marks of Sandia National Labs. and Sandia Corp.)

Sandia National Laboratories / Rapid Prototyping Laboratory The Rapid Prototyping Laboratory (RPL) supports internal design, manufacturing and process development with three rapid prototyping technologies: stereolithography, selective laser sintering and multi-jet modeling.

Southwest Research Institute An independent engineering and physical sciences research and development organization in San Antonio, TX. Provides FDM rapid prototyping through their engine development group. More information about their RP services.

SRI International Developing Direct Photo Shaping technology for ceramcs and metals. The process is similar to stereolithography, but uses a DMD for exposure.

US Army, Light Armament Division (LAD) Center for the research, development and engineering of small and cannon caliber ammunition and weapons.

US Army, Mobile Parts Hospital The Army is developing the equivalent of the well-known M.A.S.H. medical units for repair of equipment in the field. This mini-factory fits in a 20 foot long container and can be transported anywhere. It has facilities to scan a broken part and create a brand new one on the spot using LENS ® (see Sandia above) rapid prototyping technology. [This site requires a Flash browser plug-in.]

Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Institute (IMTI) A division of the National Research Council and home to the Precision Freeform Fabrication Special Interest Group, and Canadian Assoc. of Rapid Prototyping, Tooling and Manufacturing. IMTI has developed a laser powder forming technology which is being commercialized by Accufusion, Inc.

Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) The SRC's Development Engineering business unit has on-site rapid-prototyping, 3D laser scanning, and injection molding. SRC offers a variety of services including reverse engineering, part inspection, prototype development, and manufacturing with expertise in electrical and mechanical design. Contact: Mark Sherwood, 125-15 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 2X8; (306) 933-8336; (306); 933-7446 FX; sherwoodm@src.sk.ca

World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC) In the last few years, integrated efforts to develop and promote additive technologies have been undertaken by the European community. The research programs include both academic and commercial organizations in many countries with much emphasis placed on direct manufacturing applications. Extensive preliminary information about the numerous efforts underway in Europe is available from the World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC), a US government-sponsored initiative, which has been conducting an assessment.

AIMME-Instituto Tecnológico Metalmecánico (Spain) An umbrella organization providing a wide range of technical and product development services, including technology evaluation, laboratory analysis and information / documentation services. The institute also provides rapid prototyping (stereolithography).

ASCAMM Technology Center (Spain) Associacio Catalana d'Empreses Constructores des Motlles i Matrius (ASCAMM) provides on-line courses in time to market reduction technologies including rapid prototyping, as well as plastic materials and parts engineering, sheet metal technology, alternative engineering design techniques, etc. Main web site requires a Flash plug-in.

caesar [Center of Advanced European Studies and Research] (Germany) caesar is engaged in material research, process development, and services for medicine and medical technology. The Center integrates additive fabrication with advanced 3D medical imaging to directly produce final medical devices. Since 2001 caesar has worked with clinical hospitals and internationally-renowned research partners and companies to provide surgical planning and implant design services. A specialty is maxillo-craniofacial surgery. Major current research projects focus on porous ceramic bone substitutes and new RP polymers for medical applications.

Centre Tecnològic Eduard Soler (Spain) The Center focuses on innovation and technology diffusion. Our main objective is to help companies to quickly acquire new technologies. Basic areas: Electronics, Mechanical, Electromechanical and special projects. We also provide Rapid Manufacturing and Prototyping and Hi-speed CNC Milling. We offer you excellent quality service with very caring attention. (in Spanish)

CIRTES (France) The European Research Center of Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Tooling has developed the Stratoconception® process. This is a CNC technique applied to thick layer LOM. Layers are machined from metals or any other final materials and bonded together mechanically. The method allows wide material selection, lowers the stairstepping effect and is said to produce inexpensive parts.

Computer-Aided Rapid Prototyping [CARP] (UK) Consortium that includes the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Leeds University (UK) and several industrial partners. The project is specifically concerned with selective laser sinteriing rapid prototyping of cylinder heads for internal combustion engines.

Center for Technology Transfers in Ceramics (CTTC) (France) Coordinator for a wide range of European community RP research initiatives in ceramic application areas such as: aerospace; biomedical engineering and implantation; electrochemical, environmental, telecommunication and electronic devices; tooling and metallurgy.

CRIF (Belgium) Stratoconception The institute provides guidance to European companies in advanced manufacturing techniques, acts as a service bureau and also does process research. Their Porcupine Mold Concept (PMC) is an effort to integrate ejectors and guides into injection molds early in the design, using RP and other techniques. (in French)

Custom-Fit An industry-led rapid manufacturing project involving 33 European partners. The intent is to create an integrated system for design, production and supply of individualized products such as motorcycle seats, helmets, implants, etc.

Direct 2 Tool This is an initiative to develop complete process chains for tooling using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology which was developed by Fraunhofer and is being commercialized by MCP-HEK Tooling GmbH. Several European universities and other organizations are involved.

Fundación Prodintec - Network of Technology Centres of Asturias (Spain) The foundation's goal is to boost the competitiveness of Asturian industrial firms by applying technological advances both to products and their manufacturing processes.

Fraunhofer Institute (IFAM)(Germany) Developing materials for direct metal fabrication.

Fraunhofer Institute of Chemical Technology (Germany) Direct metal fabrication.

Fraunhofer Institut Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik (IPK) (Germany) Researching selective laser sintering.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik (Germany) Research in laminated tooling. Web site is in German, but the process flow and examples can be understood without translation.

INNOPRO European Technology Initiative The European Commonwealth countries have instituted an extensive program of research in manufacturing technology, medical applications and many other areas. This listing of papers and reports is maintained by the University of Erlangen, Germany.

inspire AG / irpd (Switzerland) [SLM] A non-profit center of competence at the ETH Zurich, has it's core capabilities in manufacturing processes and traditional technologies, and focuses on the optimization and control of manufacturing processes. The organization works primarily with selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM), additive technologies that are evolving to become manufacturing processes for small lots and individualized components.

Institut Supérieur d'Ingénierie de la Conception (InSIC) A French government agency involved in RP and related research areas, especially Stratoconception technology.

Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Rapid Product Development Project (IMS RPD) This effort was coordinated by Fraunhofer IPA and the original three year project ended in July, 2001. The general thrust was to integrate RE and RM technology, and to develop high temperature and pressure SLA injection molds. Other pursuits included software models based on facet meshes; rapid manufacturing of injection molds using a powder binder mixture. Companies and research institutions from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea and the US participate. A new 3 year project was started in August, 2001.

International Institute on Mass Customization & Personalization Provides a platform for interaction between researchers and practitioners on mass customization, personalization and related issues.

IUC Wermland AB (Sweden) [Government / Industry consortium] (in Swedish)

IVF - The Swedish Institute of Production Engineering Research (Sweden) The RP group at IVF focuses on applications of FFF including industrial RP and RT as well as newer research fields such as FFF in medicine. IVF also coordinates the Swedish Industrial Network on FFF.

Laboratory of Composite Materials of The Institute of Technical Acoustics of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Russia) Conducts research in selective laser sintering and laminated object manufacturing. Also has stereolithography technology. Most of the site is in Russian, but there is also a synopsis in English.

Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Samara branch (Russia) Conducts investigations in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) in association with Samara State Technical University. The work especially concentrates on the physical and chemical conditions of the SLS process itself. Also researching new approaches to powder materials for the SLS process.

Micro- and NanoManufacturing Working Group (MINAM) The Working Group, hosted by the Fraunhofer Institues, Germany, has roughly 300 academic and industry members from 14 countries in Europe and acts as an exchange on manufacturing topics related to aspects of MMD's and other small devices and systems.

Phidias Consortium An industry / university medical technology collaboration with goals of demonstrating the value of anatomical models in surgery and addressing quality assurance issues in such applications.

RAPIMAN (Slovenia) (RApid Prototyping and Innovative MAnufacturing Network) An international network based in Slovenia including providers and users of rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing technologies.

RAPTEC A collaborative research and development project involving industrial and academic partners from various European countries. Its aim is to investigate and improve process chains for producing prototypes of plastic injection molded and sheet metal formed parts using RP methods.

RAPTIA The joint European Thematic Network Rapid Prototyping and Tooling Project. See also this SINTEF page.

Rapid Prototyping Zentrum Bremen (RPZ) (Germany) RPZ offers integrated product development services for industry. The RPZ is a network of research institutes and companies that are engaged in RP. We offer several complete RP-process chains, consulting and research.

Replicating Rapid-Prototyper Project (UK) Bath University's Centre for Biomimetic and Natural Technology & IMRC is the home of The Replicating Rapid-Prototyper Project, attempting to demonstrate that RP and direct writing technologies can be used to make a von Neumann Universal Constructor.

RM Platform A European Commission supported effort with members from industry and academia to define R&D priorities and policies to help ensure that rapid manufacturing and related technologies result in long-term economic benefits.

SARE Thematic Network European network on the incorporation of new technologies such as rapid prototyping, simulation and recycling to the precision foundry industry. SARE is a research project sponsored by the Growth Programme of the European Community and has about 30 members from many different countries.

Tekniker (Spain) An industrial research foundation in Eibar (Guipuzcoa), Spain specializing in manufacturing technologies. Specialties include rapid prototyping and rapid tooling, short runs in plastic and metal, and reverse engineering.

TNO Industrial Technology (Netherlands) Offers several RP technologies as a service bureau and does development of RP processes, rapid tooling and manufacturing, 3D imaging and software. One interesting area of research is in inkjets for high viscosity materials.

Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) (South Africa)The Technikon Free State specializes in rapid prototyping to shorten time-to-market in new products development. Technologies and expertise offered to industry include industrial design, CAD modeling, centrifugal rubber mold castings, silicone molds and vacuum casting.

Global Competitiveness Centre in Engineering (South Africa) The Global Competitiveness Centre in Engineering has recently been established at the University of Stellenbosch to promote RP and related technologies. Both the CRPM, above and the GCC are under the umbrella of the National Product Development Center (NPDC) at CSIR in Praetoria.

Queensland Manufacturing Institite Limited A joint venture among several Australian manufacturing, research, training and support agencies. It provides a manufacturing, applied research and advanced technical training facility to business, and a network of expertise. Provides access to stereolithography, selective laser sintering, Multi-Jet Modeling^TM, RTV silicone tooling, sand and investment casting, DirectAim^TM and Keltool^TM processes, etc.