Chuck Hull is the co-founder, executive vice president and chief technology officer of 3D systems. The 75 year old invented the solid imaging process referred to as stereo lithography, which is also known as 3D printing. Hull is also the man behind the invention of the very first commercial rapid prototyping technology, and the STL file format.
In a recent interview, pioneering inventor Chuck Hull discussed his revolutionary invention and the state of 3D printing in the world today. In 1983, he had an idea to use the UV technology and got a lab in which to experiment in. In his earlier experiments, whenever materials cured to a solid from a liquid, they tended to shrink and distort. But today, the chemistry and process has been vastly improved.
In the last few years, the technology Hull invented has blossomed in terms of really rapid growth and recognition. Many things have contributed to this. For instance, many of the medical applications catch the imagination of people; the maker movement with hobbyists using low-cost machines to invent and build using 3D printing. Last year, Chuck Hull was honored with the prestigious Economist Innovation Award, for his life’s work in inventing and pioneering 3D printing.
