Nov.26, 2013

If you ask who invented 3D printing? Most of people would say, the first 3D printer was created by Charles W. Hull in the mid-1980s, which uses a technique called stereolithography.

But many don't know, the technology was developed back in 1980's by Bill Masters in Greenville.

Bill Masters is an inventor, a boot strap entrepreneur as he called himself. "One day I thought well you know if you had a place to stop it that would be a seed point. Then you could start shooting out something and let it crash into and put another one and another and another one."

He tried to explain his idea to others. "I came up with the spit ball analogy. You stand on a balcony and you throw a spit ball down and it sticks you throw another one, and another one and another one. It starts sticking, sticking, sticking and starts to grow sides on it making a cup out of spit balls. It could have been clay but spit ball sounded cooler." But at that time, in the late seventies and early eighties, people just didn't believe him.

But Masters holds several patents for 3D printing. "Out of the six kind of known ways of doing 3-D printing I have landmarked patents on three," said Masters.

Masters has not only got his patents, but also built his first 3D printer, a Computer Aided Modeling Machine CAMM3.

A 3D printer invented by Bill Masters (Source: FOX Carolina)

A 3D printed object made a this first 3D printer

"I just invent things," said Masters. Up to now he has aleady hold over 50 patents. Watch below the Fox Caroline report.

 

Posted in 3D Printers

 

 

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Nabil Hamati wrote at 5/1/2014 4:16:35 PM:

I use Rolland Camm3 exactly as the one in the above photo and i am interesting to upgrade it and use it as 3D printer what parts and components in addition to the extruder do i need and how much that will cost thank you Nabil Hamati

A2 wrote at 12/2/2013 7:30:06 AM:

Computer automated manufacturing process and system William E. Masters https://www.google.com/patents/US4665492

Karl.D wrote at 11/27/2013 10:02:34 PM:

@ TC I am neither. I couldn't find the patents he mentioned and wanted to have a look for interests sake.

TC wrote at 11/27/2013 7:33:40 PM:

@ Karl D. Sniff Sniff! What's wrong Karl D. are you jealous or envious. Grow up!

TJ wrote at 11/27/2013 11:54:01 AM:

Looks like Mr. Masters built his 3D printer using a Roland DG CAMM-3 Modelling Machine (see the photo: A 3D printer invented by Bill Masters (Source: FOX Carolina)). GIYF: https://www.google.dk/search?q=camm+3+roland&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3M2VUt6YKef_ygO5lIKIDQ&ved=0CFoQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=1114#q=camm+3&tbm=isch&imgdii=_

James wrote at 11/27/2013 5:16:45 AM:

He's da boss!

Karl.D wrote at 11/27/2013 4:54:12 AM:

Oh so he created Ballistic Particle Manufacturing (BPM). What are the other two patents he has? Technically Housholder came up with the idea and apparatus layout of 3D printing in 1979.



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