Wohlers Associates - Technical Articles on Rapid Prototyping and Related Subjects

Technical Articles

Click here to see a list of 139 articles (1992-2008) by Wohlers.
Click here to see a list of 123 articles (1984-1991) by Wohlers.
Click here to see a list of 82 books, chapters, and technical papers (1984-2007) by Wohlers.

See also State of the Industry Reports.

"Viewpoint" column from Time-Compression Technologies

March/April 2008 History of Additive Fabrication (Part 1)
This two-part series provides a timeline that shows how additive fabrication technologies have developed from 1987 to 2007. The first part covers 1987 through 2002.
January/February 2008 International Business Etiquette (Part 2)
More and more business is being conducted abroad, so it’s a good idea to know about the culture before you go so that you don’t commit a major faux pas. For this and the next issue, our Viewpoint column will touch on some of the major cultures around the world and what is accepted, expected and just plain frowned upon. What’s proper in one country may not be in the next. Avoid mistakes that can lead to a less than favorable impression and reduce the chances of success when traveling on business
November/December 2007 International Business Etiquette (Part 1)
More and more business is being conducted abroad, so it’s a good idea to know about the culture before you go so that you don’t commit a major faux pas. For this and the next issue, our Viewpoint column will touch on some of the major cultures around the world and what is accepted, expected and just plain frowned upon. What’s proper in one country may not be in the next. Avoid mistakes that can lead to a less than favorable impression and reduce the chances of success when traveling on business.
November/December 2007 (Service Provider Supplement) The Outgrowth of Service Providers
In the last several years, a number of new materials for additive systems have been developed that greatly increase the ability of parts to be used as functional prototypes. As a consequence, the demand for functional prototype parts is expected to increase and service providers will likely fulfill the bulk of this demand.
September/October 2007 How to Survive Extreme Global Business Trips (Part 2)
Learn more tips from someone who survived a nine-day loop around the world to make your own business trips a little easier.
May/June 2007 How to Survive Extreme Global Business Trips (Part 1)
Business trips around the world are starting to become more common. Learn how Terry Wohlers managed to survive one extreme business trip where he traveled from the U.S. to Europe, to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Tokyo, and then back to the U.S. again to complete a loop around the world in just nine days.
March/April 2007 Confused by Terminology?
"Rapid prototyping" once served well as the term used to describe a class of technology and its applications, but times have changed.
January/February 2007 A Jaw-Dropping Display of Color Models
The 3DP User Group organized the world's most impressive collection of color models produced by 3D printing.
September/October 2006 The Industry's Next Major Turning Point
What is the next major crossroad, for better or worse, in additive fabrication?
May/June 2006 Where Additive Processes Fit in The Mass Customization Movement
Additive technologies will play a significant role in the production of custom and personalized products in the future.
March/April 2006 Obstacles to Rapid Manufacturing
Will material cost, processing issues and company culture stifle growth?
January/February 2006 A View from 10 Years Ago
Terry Wohlers' view from 10 years ago—Where the industry was headed and where it ended up.
November/December 2005 (Special Supplement) How to Find the Right Service Provider
November/December 2005 Are Under–$1,000 3D Printers in Our Future?
As 3D printer hardware and materials evolve, and the demand for them increase, some unit prices will likely dip below $20,000 for the first time.
September/October 2005 Too Many Industry Events?
Industry and academic conferences and expositions in the U.S., Europe, and other parts of the world focus on additive fabrication.
May/June 2005 Will Multicolor Flourish or Flounder
March/April 2005 Material Options: An Absence or Abundance?
For some, it is easy to forget that material can make the difference between success and failure when prototyping.
January/February 2005 Rapid RP Growth in South Africa
Recent international conference and exhibition underscores the country's strong interest in the technology and its application.
November/December 2004 Will A/E/C Embrace RP?
Opportunities abound, but questions remain.
August/September 2004 What the 3D Systems/EOS Settlement Means to the Industry
The resolution of eight lawsuits paves the way for improved competition and a stronger industry.
April/May 2004 Rapid Short-Run Production Will Protect U.S. Manufacturing
With its leadership in RP technology, the U.S. is poised to secure a precious share of manufacturing in the future.

"3D Printing" column from Time-Compression Technologies

November/December 2005 Factors to Consider When Choosing a 3D Printer
With shipments of 3D printers nearly doubling over the past year, interest in acquiring 3D printing technology has increased dramatically.
September/October 2005 3D Printing in Education
How High Schools, Colleges and Universities Leverage 3D Printing Technology.
May/June 2005 Why Send a Model When You Can Fax a 3D Print?
Terry Wohlers talks about the benefits of this new technology for your business.
March/April 2005 3D Printing Supports Collaboration with Suppliers Around the Globe
Fast, affordable 3D prints facilitate interaction between product design and manufacturing.
January/February 2005 3D Printing Provides Benefits Throughout Product Development
Communicate increased product knowledge from conceptual design through production.

Articles (2006-2008)

Design Focus: Time is money, so prototype for profit, Modern Plastics, May 1, 2008.
Tech Watch: 3-D printer market poised for big growth, IT Channel, May 1, 2008.
3D printing takes a step forward, Eureka, May 6, 2008.
The Art of 3D Printing, Design News, April 28, 2008.
A whole new dimension to printing, The Globe and Mail, February 28, 2008.
Trends 2008: Will 3D-Printing Finally Go Mainstream?, CNET.com, December 17, 2007.
How 3-D Printing Figures Turns Web Worlds Real, Wall Street Journal, December 12, 2007.
3-D Home Printers Could Change Economy, LiveScience, October 10, 2007.
US firm brings 3D printing to the deskop with low-priced kit, printweek.com, September 21, 2007.
Rapid processes gaining ground, Modern Plastics Worldwide, August 1, 2007.
Rapid Manufacturing's Role in the Factory of the Future, Design News, July 27, 2007.
What Engineers Should Know about Direct Digital Manufacturing, Design News, July 26, 2007.
3D Printing Interview with Evan Malone of Fab@Home, YouTube, July 23, 2007.
Rapid Prototyping? Just Call it '3D Printing,' Design News, July 16, 2007.
Mechatronics Fuels Revolution in 3D Printing, Design News, June 28, 2007.
Local inventor, entrepreneur played early role in developing 3D printing, The Greenville News, May 30, 2007.
Giant Machine Designed to Print Houses, Discovery News, April 3, 2007.
Free-Form Sculpting, Desktop Engineering, November 2006.
Your Next House May Come From A Printer, InformationWeek, December 1, 2006.
3D Printing Captures the Attention of Wall Street, Innovate Forum, August 4, 2006.
3D Printers Reshape the World of Copying, Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2006.
A plane you can print, NewScientistTech, July 21, 2006.
Printable Robots, OhmyNews, June 21, 2006.
Additive Fabrication Facilitates Successful Injection Mold Design and Build, MoldMaking Technology, March 2006.
Productive Nanosystems (From molecules to superproducts), 5-minute video, March 14, 2006.
Additive Fabrication Technology, MoldMaking Technology, January 2006.

2001-2005

Downhill ride: Protomold picks up speed by knowing when to say 'no', Upsizemag.com, December 2005.
Organ Repair, ScienCentralNews, November 10, 2005.
Quick off the mark, Engineering, July/August 2005.
Rapid prototyping grows despite less government funding, Plastics News China eWeekly, July 13, 2005.
Why Western design firms have trouble in mainland China, Plastics News China eWeekly, July 5, 2005.
Make It Quick, Scientific American, July 2005.
If You Can Draw It, They Can Make It, BusinessWeek, May 23, 2005.
Fortune Cookie, Managing Automation, May 13, 2005.
Model medicine, The Salt Lake Tribune, April 24, 2005.
3D printer to churn out copies of itself, NewScientist.com, March 18, 2005.
Time for RP Standards, Desktop Engineering, March 2005
Mummy receives high-tech face-lift, Rocky Mountain News, March 9, 2005.
3-D printers give picture of future for consumers, Chicago Tribune, February 12, 2005.
High-tech glue gun helps engineers make chips, New York Times News Service, September 23, 2004.
3-D scan reconstructs face of a mummy, MSNBC News, September 1, 2004.
Facial Reconstruction of a Wrapped Egyptian Mummy Using MDCT, American Journal of Roentgenology, September 2004.
Using his Bobblehead, The Mercury News, August 27, 2004.
High tech implants to aid facial reconstruction to be developed at Loughborough University, Innovations Reports, August 27, 2004.
3D Printers Lead Growth of Rapid Prototyping, Plastics Technology, August 2004.
Walter Reed using 3-D technology to improve treatment, ARNEWS, March 24, 2004.
Business Beat: Perseverance pays off, Pioneer Press, March 21, 2004.
The Shape of Prints to Come, The Press Association, March 10, 2004.
The CAD Society: Designing a Better Future, Time-Compression Technologies, January 2004.
Molecular Nanotechnology Fully Loaded with Benefits and Risks, The Futurist, January 5, 2004.
Instant Manufacturing, Technology Review, November 2003.
Words of Wisdom: Rapid manufacturing on the horizon, Plastics Machinery & Auxiliaries, October 2003.
3-D Printing's Great Leap Forward, Wired News, August 11, 2003.
Prototype or product? Rapid manufacturing is closer to mainstream, Plastics Machinery & Auxiliaries, April 2003.
Why are Trade Shows Hostile to Students?, upFront.eZine, issue #308, September 10, 2002.
Golden firm may aid twins: Skull models could help in separation, published in the August 20, 2002, edition of the Denver Post.
Engineer selling her invention to firms and investors, Detroit Free Press, August 6, 2002.

1992-2001

Rapid Manufacturing, published in the November 2001 issue of Computer Graphics World.
Imaging Faster New design tools and software allow CEOs and customers to move products to market; published in the August 2001 issue of Darwin magazine.
Who Needs a Factory When You Have a Printer?, originally published in the June 2001 issue of eCFO magazine under the title Absolutely Fab.
Cyber Cloning 3-D computer images can be quickly turned into hands-on prototypes; published in May 31, 2001 issue of Minneapolis' PioneerPlanet.
Computer technology helping speed products to market, published in the May 11, 2001 issue of The Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Solid Future of Rapid Prototyping, published in the March 24, 2001 U.S. edition of The Economist.
Rapid Prototyping: Pretty Soon, You Won't Be Able To Get Along Without It, published by Plastics Technology in February 2001.
Rapid Tooling Is Ready For Prime Time, published by Plastics Technology in January 2001.
Methods of Rapid Tooling Worldwide, published in the October 2000 issue of MoldMaking Technology Magazine.
Scale Models from Thin Air Some day in the next millennium, architects may be able to put design information into a machine that will automatically construct a complete building; authored by B.J. Novitski and published in August 2000.
Rapid Prototyping: A Subtle Industrial Revolution, published in the April 2000 issue of Industrial Equipment News.
Foreword to Product Concept & Design Engineering—a supplement to Automotive Manufacturing International published in 1999 by Sterling Publications Limited (London, England).
Digital Architect: Rapid prototyping lets architects make scale models from computer files, authored by B.J. Novitski and published in December 1999.
Industry's Amazing New Instant Prototypes, published in the January 12, 1998 edition of Fortune magazine.
Rapid Prototyping Systems, published in the November 1996 issue of Computer Graphics World.
RP Brings 3D Printing to the Design Office published in the August 1996 issue of Computer-Aided Engineering.
Pondering Windows and the Future of Unix published in the February 1996 issue of CGW.
The Challenge of 3D Digitizing published in the November 1995 issue of CGW.
TriSpectives Should Be a Hit published in the November 1995 issue of CGW.
AutoCAD and Rapid Prototyping published in the November 1995 issue of CADENCE.
Pro/JR Is No Small Fry published in the September 1995 issue of CGW.
3D Digitizers for Engineering published in the March 1995 issue of CGW.
Surfcam Machines to the Max published in the March 1994 issue of Computer-Aided Engineering.
PC Graphics Gear Up published in the January 1994 issue of Computer-Aided Engineering.
Cashing in on Rapid Prototyping published in the September 1993 issue of Computer-Aided Engineering.
Chrysler Compares Rapid Prototyping Systems published in the October 1992 issue of Computer-Aided Engineering.
CAD Meets Rapid Prototyping published in the April 1992 issue of Computer-Aided Engineering.

"Perspectives" column from Time-Compression Technologies

October/November 2003 Will the Service Provider Survive?
The key to RP success is a strategic plan for the future while acquiring the people, processes and skills necessary to support the plan.
March/April 2003 Has Anything Changed in Ten Years?
The Rapid Prototyping Association (RPA) of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Since the inception of this organization, much has changed. And yet, many things remain the same.
January/February 2003 Is CNC Machining Really Better than RP?
Knowledge of both technologies is important for the selection of the right tool for the job.
November/December 2002 A Year Filled With Promising R&D
Despite a challenging year, the RP industry has continued its research and development of new products, processes, materials and applications.
September/October 2002 Surviving Tough Times
From these challenging economic times, the RP industry will gain strong leaders, new applications and exciting solutions.
May/June 2002 Timing Isn't Everything, But Almost
Nothing in itself is truly good or bad. It is when you put it to work that matters in the end.
March/April 2002 The Real Cost of RP
What to consider before bringing RP in-house.
February 2002 RP Applications: The Possibilities Are Endless
New advances and trends yield surprises
November 2001 Can Technology Acquisition Be An Emotional Decision?
To offer winning products, companies must make sweeping changes--both cultural and technical--to their product development practices.
October 2001 Obstacles to RP's Growth
Rapid prototyping is not immune to the wide ranging obstacles that limit the growth of new products and technology.
September 2001 Lessons from Guttenberg's Legacy
What has the RP industry taken from this German inventor and the processes that follow?
June 2001 3-D Printers for the Home: Are They in Our Future?
Reviewing the cost of a 3-D printer will determine if it's a justifiable expense and a desirable solution.
May 2001 What's in a Name?
Although the definition of rapid prototyping is varied and the application of the term diverse, it may continue to be the most commonly used definition.
April 2001 Rapid Production: Key Barriers to Growth
The ways in which rapid production could change the future of manufacturing, coupled with its economic impact, are astounding, but there are barriers.
March 2001 Here Lies... Obituaries of RP Manufacturers
Many rapid prototyping vendors have failed, and more will follow. Here's why.
January/February 2001 Rapid Prototyping in 2006
Incremental change. Is that all that can be expected of the rapid prototyping industry?

"Internet Editorial" from Rapid Prototyping Journal

October 2002, Vol. 8, No. 5, Internet Editorial: Xpress3D
June 2002, Vol. 8, No. 3, Internet Editorial: The Traveling Engineer
April 2002, Vol. 8, No. 2, Internet Editorial: Will Magazines Become Obsolete?
October 2001, Vol. 7, No. 5, Internet Editorial: Castle Island's Web site
August 2001, Vol. 7, No. 4, Internet Editorial: Will Internet Companies Thrive in the Future?
June 2001, Vol. 7, No. 3, Internet Editorial: Is efunda an Industry Best Kept Secret?
April 2001, Vol. 7, No. 2, Internet Editorial: E-commerce: The Challenges of Creating a B2B Exchange
January 2001, Vol. 7, No. 1, Internet Editorial: Bits2Parts.com
October 2000, Vol. 6, No. 4, Internet Editorial: Are You Puzzled Too?
July 2000, Vol. 7, No. 3, Internet Editorial: Quote Generation on the Web