Chuck Hull facts for kids

Chuck Hull (born May 12, 1939) is an amazing American inventor. He is a co-founder and a top leader at a company called 3D Systems. Chuck Hull is known for inventing the SLA 3D printer. This was the very first commercial machine that could quickly make 3D objects. He also created the widely used STL file format, which is essential for 3D printing. He holds more than 60 patents in the United States and many more around the world. In 2014, he was honored by being added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He was also one of the first people inducted into the TCT Hall of Fame in 2017. In February 2025, Hull was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

Early Life and Education

Chuck Hull was born on May 12, 1939, in Clifton, Colorado. He spent his early years in Clifton and Gateway, Colorado. He finished high school at Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado. In 1961, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics. He got this degree from the University of Colorado. He is also recognized as a special alumnus of Colorado Mesa University.

How 3D Printing Began

Chuck Hull first thought of his big idea in 1983. He was using special UV light to harden coatings on tabletops. This gave him the idea for 3D printing. On July 16, 1984, some French inventors filed a patent for a similar process. This was just three weeks before Hull filed his own patent. However, the French company decided not to continue with their patent. They thought there wasn't enough business potential.

Hull was the one who created the word "stereolithography." He used this term in his patent, which was approved on March 11, 1986. He described stereolithography as a way to make solid objects. It works by "printing" very thin layers of a special material. This material hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light.

In Hull's invention, a strong beam of UV light shines onto a liquid. This liquid is called a photopolymer. A computer guides the light beam. It draws each layer of the object onto the liquid's surface. Wherever the light touches, the liquid turns into a solid. Special computer software helps by slicing the object's design into many thin layers. The machine then builds the object layer by layer. It starts with the bottom layer. After each layer hardens, a platform lowers slightly.

Starting Commercial 3D Printing

In 1986, Chuck Hull started the first company for commercial rapid prototyping. He founded 3D Systems in Valencia, California. He realized his invention could work with more than just liquids. So, he gave it the general name "stereolithography," which is now known as 3D printing. He made sure his patents covered any material that could change from a liquid to a solid.

Hull developed many important patents for today's additive manufacturing technologies. This includes how to prepare data using triangulated models, like the STL file format. It also covers how to slice the models into layers. His patents also included smart ways to expose the material to light.

Awards and Recognition

Chuck Hull has received many important awards for his inventions:

• In 2014, he won the European Inventor Award. This was in the Non-European countries category. The European Patent Office gave him this award.
• In 2015, he won the IRI Achievement Award. The Industrial Research Institute gave him this award for inventing stereolithography.
• In 2020, he received the Progress Medal from the Royal Photographic Society.
• In 2023, President Joe Biden gave him the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to America’s well-being.
• In 2025, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. This was for his invention of stereolithography.

See also

In Spanish: Chuck Hull para niños