The term 3D printing originally designated a specific process patented as 3DP by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1993 and licensed to several manufacturers. Today the term is used as a
3D printing has existed in concept since 1945 and in practice—however primitive—since 1971, proposing a faster and more efficient method of making things.
While 3D printing is a relatively new technology, its history is deep, varied, and interesting – and, of course, still evolving. Here, we''ll take a brief look at the origins of the technology, its rise in popularity, and use, and what we believe the future holds for it.
The general concept of and procedure to be used in 3D-printing was first described by Murray Leinster in his 1945 short story "Things Pass By": "But this constructor is both efficient and flexible. I feed magnetronic plastics — the stuff they make houses and ships of nowadays — into this moving arm.
This timeline of 3D printing spans from the 1980s to today. The technology was controlled by companies like 3D Systems and Stratasys, which were the first to file patents. Companies like Makerbot made the technology open-sourced, and now anyone can build a 3D printer.
3D printing origins: The first 3D printing technology, Stereolithography (SLA), was invented by Chuck Hull in 1984. He founded 3D Systems and released the first 3D printer, the SLA-1, in 1987.
The oldest 3D printing technology is Stereolithography (SLA), invented by Chuck Hull in 1984. This technique involves curing photosensitive resin with UV light to build objects layer by layer. SLA marked the beginning of additive manufacturing technologies and the birth of modern 3D printing.
Hull''s first printer, the SLA-1, was released in 1987 and was a landmark achievement in the field. As 3D printing technology evolved, artists and designers became interested in experimenting with its materials and techniques. We can see this in the V&A collection, in the work of designer Ron Arad.
Consumer 3D printing and bio-printing hog most of the headlines these days, but additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping have a decades-long heritage.
The 1980s: Birth of the main 3D Printing Techniques. The concept of 3D printing has been imagined back in the 1970''s, but the first experiments are dated from 1981. The first 3D printing attempts are granted to Dr Kodama for his