Chuck Hull
Encyclopedia
Chuck Hull is the co-founder, executive vice president and chief technology officer of 3D Systems
. He is the inventor of the solid imaging process known as stereolithography
, the first commercial rapid prototyping
technology, and the STL file format
. He is the inventor on more than 60 U.S. patents
as well as other patents around the world in the fields of ion optics
and rapid prototyping
.
” in his U.S. Patent 4,575,330
, entitled “Apparatus for Production of Three-Dimensional Objects by Stereolithography” issued on March 11, 1986. He defined stereolithography
as a method and apparatus for making solid objects by successively “printing” thin layers of the ultraviolet curable material one on top of the other.
In Hull’s patent, a concentrated beam of ultraviolet light is focused onto the surface of a vat filled with liquid photopolymer
. The light beam, moving under computer control, draws each layer of the object onto the surface of the liquid. Wherever the beam strikes the surface, the photopolymer polymerizes/crosslinks and changes to a solid. An advanced CAD/CAM/CAE
software mathematically slices the computer model of the object into a large number of thin layers. The process then builds the object layer by layer starting with the bottom layer, on an elevator that is lowered slightly after solidification of each layer.
was started by Hull when he founded 3D Systems
in Valencia, CA. Hull realized that his concept was not limited to liquids and therefore gave it the generic name “stereolithography
” (3D printing
), and filed broad patent claims covering any “material capable of solidification” or “material capable of altering its physical state.”
Hull built up a patent portfolio covering many fundamental aspects of today’s additive manufacturing
technologies such as data preparation via triangulated models (STL file format
) and slicing, and many exposure strategies such as alternating hatch directions.
The salary for his role as 3D Systems CTO was $293,385 in 2010.
3D Systems
3D Systems, headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a maker of rapid prototyping machines, notable for developing stereolithography and the STL file format.- History :...
. He is the inventor of the solid imaging process known as stereolithography
Stereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
, the first commercial rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
technology, and the STL file format
STL (file format)
STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. This file format is supported by many other software packages; it is widely used for rapid prototyping and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three dimensional...
. He is the inventor on more than 60 U.S. patents
United States patent law
United States patent law was established "to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;" as provided by the United States Constitution. Congress implemented these...
as well as other patents around the world in the fields of ion optics
Ion optics
Ion optics involves the focusing of plasmas and ion streams, usually in mass spectrometry.-Electric field manipulation:* Electrostatic lens** Einzel lens* Electrostatic analyzer...
and rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
.
Beginnings of stereolithography
Hull coined the term “stereolithographyStereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
” in his U.S. Patent 4,575,330
, entitled “Apparatus for Production of Three-Dimensional Objects by Stereolithography” issued on March 11, 1986. He defined stereolithography
Stereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
as a method and apparatus for making solid objects by successively “printing” thin layers of the ultraviolet curable material one on top of the other.
In Hull’s patent, a concentrated beam of ultraviolet light is focused onto the surface of a vat filled with liquid photopolymer
Photopolymer
A photopolymer is a polymer that changes its properties when exposed to light, often in the ultraviolet spectrum. These polymers are useful in dentistry for fillings and in rapid prototyping in the stereolithography and 3D printing processes. This material is also used in the creation of ADA...
. The light beam, moving under computer control, draws each layer of the object onto the surface of the liquid. Wherever the beam strikes the surface, the photopolymer polymerizes/crosslinks and changes to a solid. An advanced CAD/CAM/CAE
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
software mathematically slices the computer model of the object into a large number of thin layers. The process then builds the object layer by layer starting with the bottom layer, on an elevator that is lowered slightly after solidification of each layer.
Commercial rapid prototyping
In 1986, commercial rapid prototypingRapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
was started by Hull when he founded 3D Systems
3D Systems
3D Systems, headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a maker of rapid prototyping machines, notable for developing stereolithography and the STL file format.- History :...
in Valencia, CA. Hull realized that his concept was not limited to liquids and therefore gave it the generic name “stereolithography
Stereolithography
Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing technology for producing models, prototypes, patterns, and in some cases, production parts.-Technology description:...
” (3D printing
3D printing
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable, and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. However, the term 3D printing is...
), and filed broad patent claims covering any “material capable of solidification” or “material capable of altering its physical state.”
Hull built up a patent portfolio covering many fundamental aspects of today’s additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is defined by ASTM as the "process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, such as traditional machining...
technologies such as data preparation via triangulated models (STL file format
STL (file format)
STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. This file format is supported by many other software packages; it is widely used for rapid prototyping and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three dimensional...
) and slicing, and many exposure strategies such as alternating hatch directions.
The salary for his role as 3D Systems CTO was $293,385 in 2010.