MISSION
To provide design engineers with cost
effective, environmentally safe, rapid
modeling and prototyping solutions.
CONCEPT
The time it takes to bring a concept from
the drawing board to the marketplace can
be critical. Manufacturers are employing
systems to shorten this process. And they
are readily justifying the costs of doing
so. Since the advent of computer-assisted
design tools, manufacturers have taken
significant steps toward utilizing these
tools for new product design and development.
Traditionally, engineers have created
three-dimensional models and prototypes
by using conventional methods of fabrication,
such as machine tooling. Long turnaround
times result in delays in getting products
to market. Rapid prototyping (RP) was developed
to automate new product development and
to shorten the development cycle significantly.
An RP system enables the engineer to develop
a model or prototype within minutes or
hours, directly from a CAD design. Often,
engineers can model much more complex geometries
with an RP system than they can produce
using conventional methods. CORPORATE NARRATIVE
S. Scott Crump and Lisa Crump se propusieron
reducir el vacío que existía
entre un modelo CAD y la fabricaci—n
de su prototipo. En 1988 Scott Crump desarroll— el
proceso de Modelado por deposición
fundida (Fused Deposition Modeling - FDM).
Esta tecnología genera modelos tridimensionales
usando un proceso de extrusión. La
primera patente fué publicada en
USA en 1992.
StrataSys introdujo su primer producto,
el 3D MODELER en 1992.
In 1993, Stratasys announced several new
products, including the FDM1500 and QuickSlice
software. And in 1994, ABS modeling material
became available with the introduction of
the FDM1600. SupportWorks and the dual-material
delivery system were also introduced.
Stratasys funded future growth through an
Initial Public Offering in 1994. Its stock
is traded on the NASDAQ-AMEX Exchange (SSYS)
and the Pacific Exchange (SYS). Year end
1998 revenues were $32.4 million.
In January 1995, Stratasys purchased the
rapid prototyping technology developed by
IBM. Under the terms of the purchase agreement,
Stratasys acquired IBM's patents, patent
disclosures, prototype machines and documentation.
This extended Stratasys' existing technology
base considerably, enabling expansion into
new prototyping applications.
Based on IBM technology, Genisys the 3D
printer is a design tool for quick multiple
iterations of concepts early in the design
cycle. This system allows a designer to "print" models
directly from a workstation.
The FDM line of rapid prototyping systems
allows designers to produce accurate, functional
prototypes for testing and final design verification.
These products can also be used to produce
tooling patterns and masters for casting,
RTV molds and spray-metal tooling applications.
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