Industry Briefing
October 2008

Top Picks by Service Providers Worldwide

Service providers, also referred to as service bureaus, offer part-building services to design and manufacturing organizations as an outsourced service. In addition to part building, many offer design, CAD/CAM/CAE, data translation, tooling, urethane casting from silicone rubber molds, reverse engineering, and other engineering and manufacturing services.

For many years, Wohlers Associates has surveyed service providers to measure the state of the industry. This year, 58 organizations in 14 countries participated in the survey. Thirty-six were from the U.S., five from Germany, two each from Australia, Belgium, India, Italy, and Turkey, and one each from Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa, and Thailand.

The survey asked many questions, including the following: If you were going to add new AF technology, which would you most likely acquire? Nineteen known technologies were listed. The results are shown in the chart at http://wohlersassociates.com/2008top.html.

The most popular response was PolyJet from Objet Geometries, followed by laser sintering from EOS. Stereolithography was the third most accepted choice. Laser sintering from 3D Systems and FDM from Stratasys tied for the fourth most popular response.

Note: The previous information was taken from Wohlers Report 2008, a 240-page global study that focuses on the advances in additive fabrication worldwide. A detailed overview of the report, as well as additional information on the market and industry, are available at http://wohlersassociates.com.


Wohlers Talk: Medical Modeling

I recently visited Medical Modeling Inc. of Golden, Colorado. I’ve been to the company a few times in the past, but this time was different. I’ve always been impressed by the company’s progressive thinking and dazzling projects. This time, however, I was taken to another level. There really is no other company like it. Not even close.

Andy Christensen has been the head of the company from the beginning. His youthful look makes you wonder how he could have started the company 12 years ago. Since then, he and his team have completed an estimated 13,000 individuals cases from around the world, many requiring multiple models. The breadth and complexity of the projects—all medical-related using CT or MRI scan data—is nothing short of extraordinary.

The core business has focused on the building of models that serve as a planning tool to teams of surgeons. Producing translucent models that reveal tumors, nerves, blood vessels, and other anatomy has been key. Most of these models have been produced using Huntsman’s Stereocol stereolithography resin. The company also runs several Spectrum Z510 multicolor 3D printers from Z Corp. Recently, the company installed a new Connex500 machine from Objet Geometries. Christensen said the company plans to introduce models in the future from this system using its unique multi-material characteristics.

Over the past year, the company has been producing metallic parts and implants on its two Electron Beam Melting (EBM) machines from Arcam. Most of the parts to date have been produced in Ti64 titanium alloy, although the company has also used cobalt chrome for wear resistant applications such as knee and hip joints. Already, the company has had components implanted into patients and expects this activity to rise significantly in the coming months with several innovative products in the works.

Accident victims, conjoined twins, cancer patients, brain tumors, severe scoliosis, dental problems, rare diseases and birth defects—Medical Modeling has seen and done it all. The display of parts and pictures of cases at the company is mind-boggling. Some are heart-wrenching. The next time you find yourself in the Denver/Golden area, consider a visit to this company. It will be like no other.

Note: Wohlers Talk is a blog that offers views, perspective, and commentary related to rapid product development and a wide range of other topics. More than 150 commentaries have been published since February 2003. To view them, visit http://wohlersassociates.com/blog.

Factory of the Future: Manufacturing by Additive Fabrication

EuroMold's 10th annual international conference, titled Factory of the Future: Manufacturing by Additive Fabrication, will be held on Friday, December 5, 2008, in Frankfurt, Germany. In the past, this conference has covered the latest developments and trends in rapid product development and additive fabrication. This year's conference will review entirely new types of manufacturing organizations, their structures, types of products they offer, and how they manufacture and distribute them. A growing number of large and medium size organizations are using AF to manufacture products, but it is some of the small, start-up companies that are the most interesting. AF and the Internet are leveling the playing field, allowing almost anyone from anywhere to manufacture products.

Mr. Ed Fries, CEO of FigurePrints, will kick off the event as keynote speaker. He will discuss the production of custom products from World of Warcraft, the most popular video game. In less than a year, FigurePrints has grown to become the largest and most successful business of its kind, with thousands of custom products sold. What’s more, tens of thousands of customers are joining a lottery each month, hoping to get a chance to place an order. As a former vice president at Microsoft, Mr. Fries grew Microsoft Game Studios from 50 people to over 1,200 and published more than 100 games, including many top sellers.

Last year, 1,654 exhibitors from 43 countries and 61,720 engineers, managers, and executives from 85 countries met at EuroMold. Those in attendance represented a wide range of industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, medical, packaging, furniture, sports, and toys. For a complete list of conference speakers and topics, as well as other details on the conference and trade fair, go to http://www.euromold.com.

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