Solidscape’s BenchTop System

Solidscape was founded in 1993 under the name of Sanders Prototype, Inc. by Royden C. Sanders to create PC-based 3D wax printers for rapid prototyping and master molds for investment casting. Sanders Prototype was initially located in

FIGURE 4.1 FDM.

Wilton, New Hampshire, and then moved to its current location in Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States. A new management team was set up in early 1998 and a major reorganization followed.

Sanders Prototype was renamed Solidscape Inc. in the fall of 2000. The first product was the Model Creator, a DOS-based desktop printer capable of producing high-resolution, three-dimensional wax models developed in CAD software packages. This machine was precise to less than 1,000th of an inch, allowing operators to produce very small, very detailed models. The wax models could then be cast without the need for a master pattern or a rubber mold. Solidscape’s machines have established themselves as a favorite among custom jewelers, who enjoy the ability to create custom designs for customers and deliver finished goods faster and more accurately than by hand.

The first computer of Solidscape was Model 6 PRO. In relation to the vacuum cleaner, a desk-sized tower comprising an Intel 486DX processor was shipped on a standard motherboard, a 15-inch CRT monitor, and a keyboard. A proprietary interface card that interacted with the printer was also mounted onto the PC. The computer was running MS-DOS. The machine had to prepare the CAD models (converting them from the STL file to the proprietary format that the printer could use) and run the printer.

Conversion for most files took several hours to complete and several more to print. Depending on the model to be developed, the entire process from file to finished output frequently took 24-30 hours. Most of these units were development models, and very few were sold.

The 6 PROs were revised to become the Modelmaker in 1997.

In 2004, Solidscape launched the BenchTop 3D printer series (T66BT and T612BT), a BenchTop-ready solution. The BenchTop series was based on DOS and did not include an external PC. The control software could run on the printer processing unit and the front-end software ModelWorks could be installed on the customer PC. Together with the BenchTop 3D printers, Solidscape has launched InduraCast and InduraFill model-making materials.

In 2006, Solidscape launched higher-performance BenchTop printers (T66BT2 and T612BT2).

In 2007, Solidscape launched the Windows platform-based BenchMark series of printers (T76, R66) including touchscreen functionality.

In 2009, Solidscape launched the preXacto series of printers (D76+, D66+) dedicated to dental applications, incorporating the proprietary SCP technology and DentaCast material.

In 2010, Solidscape launched the BenchMark (T76+, R66+), incorporating the proprietary SCP technology.