Stereolithography invention (Chuck Hull, mid-1980s)

First 3D printing technology — liquid polymer + two intersecting UV lasers. Used as origin point.

Does everybody know what 3D printing is? The original was called stereolithography. It was invented in the mid-1980s by a guy at the University of Texas. He had a bath of liquid photochromic polymer resin and two laser beams. Where the two lasers came together and intersected, the greater intensity of the UV would cause the liquid polymer to polymerize and solidify. He could build up a three-dimensional object by scanning. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for coming up with this idea.