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Charles Hull created the 3D printer
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The frst SLA (stereolithographic apparatus) machine is
produced by 3D Systems. The machine’s process
involves a UV laser solidifying photopolymer, a liquid with the viscosity and color of
honey that makes three-dimensional parts layer by layer. Although imperfect, the
machine proves that highly complex parts can be manufactured overnight. -
The first lab-grown organ is implanted in humans when young
patients undergo urinary bladder augmentation using a 3-D
synthetic scaffold coated with their own cells. The technology,
developed by scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for
Regenerative Medicine, opened the door to developing other
strategies for engineering organs, including printing them. Because they are made with
a patient’s own cells, there is little to no risk of rejection. -
Scientists engineer a miniature functional kidney that is able to flter
blood and produce diluted urine in an animal. The development led
to research at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
that aims to “print” organs and tissues using 3D printing technology -
Dr. Adrian Bowyer at University of Bath founds RepRap, an
open-source initiative to build a 3D printer that can print most of its
own components. The vision of this project is to democratize
manufacturing by cheaply distributing RepRap units to individuals everywhere,
enabling them to create everyday products on their own. -
The frst SLS (selective laser sintering) machine becomes viable. This
type of machine uses a laser to fuse materials into 3D products. This
breakthrough opens the door to mass customization and on-demand
manufacturing of industrial parts, and later, prostheses.
That same year Objet a 3D printing systems and materials provider, -
Bioprinting innovator Organovo Forgacs’s technology, uses a 3D bioprinter to print the first blood vessel.
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Kor Ecologic unveils Urbee, a sleek, environmentally friendly
prototype car with a complete 3D-printed body at the
TEDxWinnipeg conference in Canada. Designed to be fuelefcient
and inexpensive, Urbee gets 200 mpg highway and 100 mpg city. It is
estimated to retail for $10,000 to $50,000 if it becomes commercially viable.
