(no subject)

From: Carl Deckard (Clemson  University)
To: RP-ML
Date: Sunday, October 15, 1995
For those of you who do not know the history:
     The first successful SLS machine was developed at The University of Texas
at Austin during the mid and late 1980's. I came up with the idea for SLS
(without knowledge of any previous attempts in the area) and approached
Professor Joe Beaman. Joe became my supervising professor and found the
money to build the first system. After initial feasibility was
demonstrated, other people joined the team, most notably: Paul Forderhase
on the technical side and Paul McClure on the business side.  The
University of Texas at Austin now has a substantial effort in SLS. The team
includes many talented people. Funding came from: NSF, Texas Advanced
Technology Program, DOD and DTM.
     I may not have been the first person to think of a powder based SFF process
using a laser, but we at The University of Texas were clearly the first to
demonstrate a functional machine. The University of Texas holds numerous
patents on SLS. The patents and other intellectual property are licensed to
DTM.
     DTM negotiated a commercial funding deal with BF Goodrich. In 1989, DTM
showed the first commercial SLS machine at Autofact. DTM shipped beta
machines in 1991 and production machines in 1992.
     Just as the 3D Systems SLA technology has been copied EOS and numerous
other technology pirates; the DTM SLS machines are now being copied by EOS.
The difference is; DTM has a strong patent position and 3D Systems did not.
3D Systems has lost several patent battles and DTM WILL WIN.
Dr. Carl Deckard
Inventor of Selective Laser Sintering and Co-founder of DTM
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Clemson University