Industry and Academic Organizations, and Research Programs

The Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM) Tech Group of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Working in conjunction with other SME groups to establish standards and disseminate information about rapid manufacturing and related areas.

Direct Write Association (DWA) (UK) A UK umbrella organization hosted by Ceram, with members from both academia and industry, to facilitate communication in developing additive technology to fabricate a wide range of electronic, biomedical and other devices. Similar in scope to the MICE initiative in the US described below.

Ecomarble Process Fraunhofer Institutes (Germany) and several museums have collaborated to develop a process to reproduce statuary artifacts from otherwise-wasted marble dust. The method uses reverse engineering scanning and ProMetal RP technologies. In addition to reproducing and protecting fine art objects, the process has potential in decoration and architecture.

The Fab Lab Program of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) doesn't utilize much additive fabrication, but does bring together an interesting group of technologies for personal manufacturing.

Frank Piller's Web Site on Mass Customization, Customer Co-Creation & Open Innovation Prof. Piller of Aachen University, Germany, offers a central clearing house for this field.

Freeform Construction UK A project at Loughboro University which is investigating the construction of buildings by additive fabrication. Emphasis is being placed on incorporating complex, organic structures into the buildings to improve energy use and comfort. Dr. Rupert Soar has studied termite mounds as one exemplary model of such structures. Also see Archiform, a related research project of the Dept. of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughboro.

MadeForOne.com This is a wide-ranging web-site for all things having to do with mass customisation. Article and news feature subjects range from customer-specified personal computers to rapid prototyping, architecture and construction, and wearable fashions.

Mesoscopic Integrated Conformal Electronics (MICE) This DARPA program was aimed at simplifying manufacture and providing greater flexibility than is possible using existing technologies. In size, mesoscale devices fall between integrated circuits and surface-mount components, and have important applications in military, RF communications and medical areas. Direct fabrication methods would make it possible to use almost any material as a substrate while eliminating conventional PCB's, high-temperature processing and chemicals. In addition, it would be possible to generate a new circuit in a matter of hours, eliminate tooling, and greatly reduce the need to inventory components. A number of commercial companies and university and government labs participated in the program, including Optomec, Sciperio and SRI International which have resulted in several ongoing commercialization efforts.

Open Source, Home-brew, DIY & Related Projects or Programs

Fab@Home An open-source project to design, develop and manufacture an inexpensive syringe-based additive fabrication machine and related software. The components to build the device can be had for as little as US$2,500, and a variety of materials can be used for building, from silicone to chocolate. The project is led from Cornell University, but there are participants from all over the world.

Koba Industries The company provides kits for fab@home machines priced in the range of US$3,000. It also sells major machine structural part kits for those wishing to procure their own electronic and mechanical components or to experiment. An (almost) completely assembled version of the machine can be purchased for about US$3,600.

RepRap RepRap Stands for replicating rapid-prototyper. It's an open-source 3D printer design project headed by Adrian Bowyer at the University of Bath (UK). RepRap is intended to make plastic, ceramic, and metal parts, and eventually to have the ability to make copies of itself. The technology is based on multi-axis robotic deposition of filamentary material, similar to fused deposition modeling and is appropriately dubbed Darwin. The parts cost is said to be on the order of US$400. As befitting an open-source project, there are now several spinoffs of RepRap.

The RepRap Foundation Promotes and distributes the results of research in self-replicating manufacturing systems.

The Clanking Replicator Project A spinoff of the RepRap project, this is a personal effort of Dr. Forrest Higgs. The project is developing a machine called Tommelise for extruding various plastic materials using slightly different technology. The projected cost to build a system is around US$150.

The Repstrap Project Simon McAuliffe in New Zealand is the force behind this spinoff of the RepRap Project which is intended to have the capability to produce the parts needed to build a seed RepRap machine. If RepRap is Darwin, maybe this one should be called DNA.

Companies providing RM Services

Also see the Service Bureau Directory.
In addition to rapid prototyping, many SB's
provide RM using a variety of technologies.

ALine, Inc. The company uses a polymer laminate technology, similar in some respects to laminated object manufacturing (LOM), but on a microscopic scale. The company's technology is aimed at fluidics and active consumable devices for benchtop analyzers and the like, but may have application to many areas.

Faceto3D Offers a service for converting two-dimensional images of an individual's face to a 3D stereolithography (STL) or VRML file. These files can be used to fabricate models using CNC or rapid prototyping, or for laser engraving within crystals.

fcubic AB (Sweden) The company is developing an inkjet-based production system for manufacturing small stainless steel parts. Currently fcubic is operating as a service bureau. Parts are typically 2 to 25mm, and can be manufactured in volumes of one or two thousand per day. The goal is to eventually license turnkey systems for high-volume production systems capable of 10,000 parts per day for parts fitting within a 10mm cube.

GT Signature Texas SB focused on rapid manufacturing using selective laser sintering.

H&R Technology Inc. The company provides an additive method, called Precison Metal Deposition.^TM   PMD is based on robotic laser welding of flat wire stock. Originally developed for making steel rule dies for cutting cardboard, plastics and similar sheet materials, the technology is now largely used as method of repairing and modifying high value parts for aerospace, military and similar applications. The main advantages claimed are low heat-affected zone and low distortion for thin-walled parts. The company largely acts as a service bureau for the manufacture of cut sheet products using their technology.

Microfabrica Inc. The company is commercializing the Electrochemical Fabrication (EFAB) technology developed at the University of Southern California. The process is aimed at fabricating small items.

microTEC Manufacture of very small objects and systems using proprietary technology similar to stereolithography. Capable of batch fabrication rates to hundreds of thousands of parts per hour. (Germany)

On-Demand Manufacturing / ODM The company was formerly a Boeing subsidiary dedicated to the direct manufacture of complex parts for demanding applications, but is now owned by RMB Products, Inc.

Rapid Quality Manufacturing, Inc. [A division of Morris Technologies, Inc. specifically founded for RM applications using DMLS.]

Companies Making Products Using RM

Ala Ortho (Italy) Ala Ortho has launched the first range of orthopedic implants in series production using rapid manufacturing technology. Arcam's EBM S12 machine is used to make such products as Fixa Ti-Por (TM), an acetabular cup with integrated network structure for improved bone in-growth.

Aprecia Pharmaceuticals Company Using the 3DP method to fabricate structured and time release medications. The products were originally developed and sold by Therics which is now concentrating on implant applications.

Fabidoo This Germany-based company uses three dimensional printing to create key fobs and other small, colorful customized items.

FigurePrints FigurePrintsallows consumers to order 3D models of their individual characters in "World of Warcraft," a very popular online game. The start-up is partnering with the game publisher Blizzard Entertainment. Models cost $99.95 and delivery takes one month.

Freedom of Creation The company produces lampshades and lighting to customer design using RP, and also is researching the use of RP in making fabrics and furnishings.

FutureFactories.com Artist Lionel Theodore Dean's effort to produce mass-individualized products, including jewelry, household items such as candlesticks, furnishings and lighting. Some of the products are also carried by Materialise's MGX Division.

Gabriel and Evenhuis - Rapid Lamps The designers offer a range of lighting made using additive fabrication methods.

JuJups A subsidiary of Genomtri, a Singapore-based software producer providing a 3D design and print portal. The company's first product area is picture frames produced on Z Corp. color 3D printers. You design the frame shape, color, messages and other elements and they'll print the fame and even the picture that goes in it for less than US$30.

HeroBuilders.com The company offers miniature doll-like replicas of world leaders and red-blooded, flag-waving American super patriots, as well. RP is used to create the models and you can have your face on one for a fee. In addition, at long last you can have a Pez dispenser made in your own likeness. Fair warning: This may be the only RP-related site with an actual hate-mail section.

LandPrint.com Have them make you a three-dimensional color replica of your favortite mountain, harbor or other geographic feature using satellite imagery and neat software you install on your own computer. With prices starting at less than US$30 it's much cheaper than buying an actual mountain.

Materialise Lights The company has been a propelling force in bringing together a number of artists and designers to create a collection of lamps and furnishings made by additive fabrication. The designs show a wide range of styles give a hint at what the future might bring.

Ohmcraft The company manufactures FineFilm^TM custom resistors using inkjet technology. Among the stated advantages are that specials can be made within hours of an order with no tooling charges. The resistors are also said to provide the close tracking, low current noise, high-current-voltage linearity, and tight tolerance of thin film devices together with the wide resistance ranges and low cost of thick film devices.

On-Demand Manufacturing / ODM The company was formerly a Boeing subsidiary dedicated to the direct manufacture of complex parts for demanding applications, but is now owned by RMB Products, Inc. A specialty is aerospace parts such as ducting.

OpenMoko OpenMoko is a subsidiary of FIC, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. The company has made the source code of its Neo 1973 cell phone available to the open source community, and has subsequently released the CAD design files of the mechanical design, as well. The hardware and software of the phone can be completely customized by users instead of just making the usual minor skin-level modifications.

Ponoko New Zealand-based Ponoko doesn't offer additive fabrication capability at present, but the company has announced intentions to do so. What's most interesting is that Ponoko has defined a very good framework for distributed manufacturing. Consumers can select from a variety of sheet materials that can be laser-cut and have their design made for themselves, or sold to the public. You can also sell your design file, so that others can manufacture the product or use it as a starting point for further improvement.

Puzzle Palace George Miller, owner and operator of this Sonoma, California-based company won the 2007 Dimension customer award contest with his Brain Gear puzzle. He uses several types of additive fabrication and more conventional technologies to create a wide variety of three dimensional puzzles.

SecondLife Manufactories for the Real Version of a Virtual World

For those individuals for whom reality has become an intrusive crutch, and who may need a physical copy of their alter-ego, Star-Command space ship, or some other damn thing that has been heretofore safely confined to a computer screen, there has arisen a class of companies to satisfy this very need. It was, of course, inevitable. Like death. Or Texas.

• Fabjectory Focuses on color models of avatars made using three dimensional printing technology from Z Corp.
• STARBASE C3 You space cadets out there, and there are many of you, can obtain models of various space ships made using FDM technology from Stratasys.

Therics, LLC Using the 3DP method to fabricate implants for bone and other tissues.

ToyBuilders.com Children of all ages can define and design their own toys, send the file to the company and shortly receive the physical item, completely painted and finished.

RM Equipment and Technology Providers

Fab@Home An open-source project to design, develop and manufacture an inexpensive syringe-based additive fabrication machine and related software. The components to build the device can be had for as little as US$2,500, and a variety of materials can be used for building, from silicone to chocolate. The project is led from Cornell University, but there are participants from all over the world.

Koba Industries The company provides kits for fab@home machines, but their web-site is quite rudimentary. Kits are priced in the range of US$3,000.

fcubic AB (Sweden) The company is developing an inkjet-based production system for manufacturing small stainless steel parts. Currently fcubic is operating as a service bureau. Parts are typically 2 to 25mm, and can be manufactured in volumes of one or two thousand per day. The goal is to eventually license turnkey systems for high-volume production systems capable of 10,000 parts per day for parts fitting within a 10mm cube.

FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc. The company makes inkjet-based systems that can be used for diverse additive manufacturing applications.

Invenios A start-up providing tools and services to fabricate nano to microscale high aspect ratio parts.

Microfabrica Inc. (Formerly MEMGen Corp.) The company is commercializing the Electrochemical Fabrication (EFAB) technology developed at the University of Southern California. The process is aimed at fabricating small items.

microTEC Manufacture of very small objects and systems using proprietary technology similar to stereolithography. Capable of batch fabrication rates to hundreds of thousands of parts per hour. (Germany)

Patterning Technologies, Ltd. (UK) The company provides inkjet-based technology for the manufacture of medical diagnostics, electronics and display systems, solar power and other applications.

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