First of its kind international 3D heritage restoration
Partnership to yield 3D Charter Collection at National Museum of Natural History
ROCK HILL, South Carolina – June 6, 2014 – 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today that the Smithsonian Institution has installed its first major 3D printed piece for its 3D digitization program: a prehistoric whale fossil that was 3D scanned and printed. 3DS, in collaboration with the Smithsonian, provided its 3D technology for 3D scan processing and printing as part of its ground-breaking multi-year partnership with Smithsonian Institution to showcase 3D printing services and technology at the National Museum of Natural History.
3DS has helped establish Smithsonian X 3D (3d.si.edu), a website where visitors can follow the 3D printing revolution and experience the new opportunities it presents in manufacturing, research, and education, as well as interact and download free STLs from the collection. The centerpiece of the collection, the Chilean whale fossil shown in this video, measures 20 feet in length, and after being 3D printed was finished and mounted bringing it to museum visitors just as it was discovered in the desert. The complete collection also includes approximately 20 additional artifacts and objects, each 3D printed and ranging in size from about 12 inches in overall length, width, and height to 36 inches in overall dimensions.
“We are honored and excited to be part of this visionary Smithsonian initiative, to increase the visibility and accessibility of our national treasures for all,” said Avi Reichental, President and CEO of 3DS. “The Smithsonian has shown both foresight and technological leadership in embracing the potential of 3D printing to preserve and showcase today’s and tomorrow’s collections, making them readily available to a global audience while demonstrating the power of 3D printing in a compelling and meaningful way.”
View the video of this process.
Learn more about 3DS’ commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.
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About 3D Systems
3D Systems is a leading provider of 3D printing centric design-to-manufacturing solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced on-demand custom parts for professionals and consumers alike in materials including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. The company also provides integrated 3D scan-based design, freeform modeling and inspection tools and an integrated 3D planning and printing digital thread for personalized surgery and patient specific medical devices. Its products and services replace and complement traditional methods and reduce the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used to rapidly design, create, communicate, prototype or produce functional parts and assemblies, empowering customers to manufacture the future.
Leadership Through Innovation and Technology
•3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.
•3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.
•3DS invented the Color-Jet-Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.
•3DS invented Multi-Jet-Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.
Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.
More information on the company is available at www.3DSystems.com.