📅 Data publikacji: 05.04.2025
When we think about 3D printing today, we imagine precision, speed, and futuristic design. But where did it all begin? Who invented the first 3D printer? And how did this idea evolve into one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century? Let’s dive into the layered story – one layer at a time. 🖨️✨
In 1983, Charles “Chuck” Hull, an American engineer, developed the first working prototype of a 3D printing system using a process called SLA – Stereolithography. This method used ultraviolet light to cure layers of liquid resin into solid parts. In 1986, he filed the first patent for a 3D printer and co-founded 3D Systems, launching the first commercial 3D printer shortly after. 🎉
📄 Patent: US4575330A
🏭 Company: 3D Systems
This was the beginning of an industry that would change manufacturing, medicine, design, and even space travel.
Just a few years later, in 1989, another major breakthrough came. Scott Crump invented FDM – Fused Deposition Modeling. He patented the process and founded Stratasys, which went on to become one of the biggest names in 3D printing. FDM became the backbone of the desktop 3D printing revolution. 🧩
Learn more about this tech here: How an Extruder Works 🔧
In the late 1980s, Carl Deckard developed SLS – Selective Laser Sintering, a method using a laser to fuse powdered materials. His innovation allowed the creation of highly durable parts, especially for industrial and aerospace applications.
This technique was commercialized by DTM Corporation and is now used worldwide for complex, strong parts. 🛠️
👉 Read also: 3D Printing with Metal
In 2005, British engineer Dr. Adrian Bowyer started a project that would ignite a new era in 3D printing: RepRap (Replicating Rapid Prototyper). It was the first open-source 3D printer capable of printing most of its own parts. 🧬
This movement gave rise to community-driven development, affordable machines, and mass adoption. Companies like Prusa Research, Creality, and Anycubic were born out of this open-source ecosystem, delivering printers to millions around the world. 🌍
Poland has embraced 3D printing rapidly in recent years. Companies like Zortrax, Omni3D, and now ElWood 3D are leading the way by combining creativity, sustainability, and speed in the European market. 🇪🇺
Founded in 2025, ElWood 3D is part of the new wave of 3D printing startups creating real change. They focus on custom orders, Amazon product lines, and advanced filament-based solutions – all made with modern printers and a passionate team. 🔥
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From 1983 to now, 3D printing has grown beyond anyone’s expectations. It has evolved from a lab-based curiosity to a cornerstone of modern manufacturing. Today, 3D printers are used for:
The 3D printing industry is now worth billions of dollars and continues to expand across every continent and industry.
| Year | Technology | Inventor / Company |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | SLA | Charles Hull (3D Systems) |
| 1987 | SLS | Carl Deckard (DTM) |
| 1989 | FDM | Scott Crump (Stratasys) |
| 1999 | Bioprinting (organs) | Wake Forest Institute |
| 2005 | RepRap / Open Source | Dr. Adrian Bowyer (UK) |
| 2025 | Next-gen startups | ElWood 3D (Poland) |
The invention of the 3D printer cannot be credited to one person alone — it’s the result of decades of creativity, engineering, and persistence.
Charles Hull gave birth to the idea. Crump, Deckard, Bowyer and many others shaped it. And today, companies like ElWood 3D carry the torch forward — making the future printable, accessible, and sustainable.
3D printing is more than a machine — it's a mindset. A way to solve problems. A way to build the future. One layer at a time. 🖨️🚀