Talk:Fused deposition modeling

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[edit] Redirect from Stratasys

Stratasys sells machines that work on principles other than FDM, namely the Eden line which are re-branded Objet machines. I'm not sure the redirect from Stratasys makes much sense given that fact. (Of course, they are phasing out the Eden machines...) --GargoyleMT 16:55, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

I made the redirect into a two-line stub based off their corporate website. No need to figure out what to redirect it to now. :) Bryan 23:47, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. I'm still getting used to this "be bold" thing. --GargoyleMT 16:10, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

No problem. Since you seem to know some stuff about the company, perhaps you could practice boldness on the stub and expand it a bit? S. Scott Crump implies that Stratasys was an important company in the development of the fused deposition modeling process so it's probably worth more detailed treatment than the five minutes' work I gave it. :) Bryan 23:44, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Unreferenced assertion

The article makes the claim that...

As of 2002 it has been the best-selling Rapid Prototyping technology, while simpler, cut-down versions of the system have been introduced in recent years, released under the Prodigy and Dimension trademarks.

This claim may well be true, but no reference is given to support it. As well, it talks about the state of the industry five years ago. Much as I like and work with FDM I see a lot more sales bumf coming out of outfits like ZCorp than Stratasys these days. Does anybody know?

Plaasjaapie 12:36, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

I think the Wohlers Report may be the best source on the subject, but it is unfree. Some of the (copies of) media articles on the Stratasys site also provide a little support for that statement. This one says: "Today, no other company in the small but fiercely competitive rapid-prototyping industry has sold more units than Stratasys." (That skirts the issue of units per year by talking about total units.) I don't see much of the Z-Corp machines, but I do know of others with PolyJet and Dimension machines. And of course 3D Systems is hoping to shake things up with the V-Flash... But that's neither here nor there. --GargoyleMT 00:17, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Somebody named ValByrne came in and upgraded the section on FDM market domination and AGAIN there is no reference pointing to where the information might have come from. Now instead of 2002 it's up to 2005. Mind, I don't mind if Stratasys is the big dog in the business, I'd just like to know who's saying it. Also, the addition asserts that "Resin systems offer much better detail than FDM." Does anybody know what a "resin system" is?  :-( Plaasjaapie 20:01, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

I noticed the change in year, so it's a good time to stick in the {{fact|date=month year}} template. As for the other statement, I think it is a reference to stereolithography machines, though some of the "3D printers" made by Objet or 3D Systems should have pretty fine detail too. The 0.010" laser beam and the liquid resin on the SLA machines reproduce detail pretty well, depending on the scale of the parts you work with. --GargoyleMT 17:50, 12 February 2007 (UTC)