benchmarks

From: Elaine Hunt (Clemson  University)
To: André Dolenc (Helsinki University of Technology)
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 1994
Forwarded to RP-ML by André, 94 08 15
Subject: benchmarks
        The first SLA user's benchmark was done in 1990 and the part was
designed by Ed Gargiulo of Dupont.(gargiulo@esvax.dnet.dupont.com)
One of the problems that we ran into was user participation. It takes time
to build parts and when time is money then benchmarks are not done. Another
surprise in a survey that I did was that few users said they measured their
parts.

One things that bothers me is that with all the variables, just what are we
looking for : accuracy, repeatability, or system stability? Right now considering the
hardware, software, and the user  issues, RP does fairly well considering
its age.  Maturity of the user community, vendor (RP & CAD), as well as
material development makes this an exciting field.  I can supply you names
of users that have developed their own benchmark parts.  I certainly am
interested in seeing thebenchmark work continue and widen.

Elaine