Solid Concepts, Inc. is a custom manufacturing company engaged in engineering, manufacturing, production, and prototyping. The company is headquartered in
Valencia, California
Valencia is an unincorporated community in northwestern Los Angeles County, California. This area, with major commercial and industrial parks, straddles State Route 126 and the Santa Clara River.
Development projects continue to be built in ...
, in the Los Angeles County area, with six other facilities located around the United States. Solid Concepts is an
additive manufacturing
3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer co ...
service provider as well as a major manufacturer of business products, aerospace, unmanned systems, medical equipment and devices, foundry cast patterns, industrial equipment and design, and transportation parts.
The company was founded in 1991, in the birthplace of
Stereolithography
Stereolithography (SLA or SL; also known as vat photopolymerisation, optical fabrication, photo-solidification, or resin printing) is a form of 3D printing technology used for creating models, prototypes, patterns, and production parts in a lay ...
. The company derives its name from its original focus on rapid prototyping through
3D printing (or additive manufacturing) with the idea that virtual concepts can be printed into solid reality, as the technologies that founded the company are capable of directly reading
CAD
Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve co ...
data and creating parts. Solid Concepts markets its products under its main name, as well as under the website-only offshoot company called ZoomRP.com. The Solid Concepts logo originally featured layered lines comprising a "S" beside a "C" to represent layered manufacturing, but has since removed the layered lines, in order to better represent its composite, urethane, and tooling capabilities.
Origins and history
Solid Concepts Inc. was founded by former 3D Systems engineers Joe Allison, Schuyler Mitchell, and Ray Bradford in 1991. The company began with two SLA-250 Stereolithography machines. They moved into CNC machining,
Selective Laser Sintering
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique that uses a laser as the power and heat source to sinter powdered material (typically nylon or polyamide), aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined ...
, and composites within a few years after opening, and have since gained PolyJet, Z-Corp 3D Colored Printing,
Fused Deposition Modeling
Fused filament fabrication (FFF), also known as fused deposition modeling (with the trademarked acronym FDM), or called ''filament freeform fabrication'', is a 3D printing process that uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material. Filam ...
,
Direct Metal Laser Sintering
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique that uses a laser as the power and heat source to sinter powdered material (typically nylon or polyamide), aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined b ...
, urethanes and tooling and injection molding processes. Solid Concepts expanded throughout the United States, especially during the late 1990s early 2000s, opening facilities in
Austin, TX
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
, during the rise of Selective Laser Sintering;
Poway, CA, during significant advances in Urethane technology with a strong focus on medical equipment; and
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United Stat ...
.
Joe Allison has since been awarded the Distinguished Innovator Operator Awards, known as DINOs (formerly known as the Dinosaur Awards) by the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) for innovation in laser sintering technology.
The awards honor additive manufacturing expertise. In 2001, Solid Concepts hired former AARK employee Jeff Lemker, who headed the evolution of cast urethane products at the company. Lemker forged the path for QuantumCast™ Cast Urethanes, a proprietary casting process trademarked by the company. The process involves heat and pressure to enhance the properties of the urethanes during casting. The casting process has found use in the medical industry. In 2008, Solid Concepts branded and trademarked ID-Light, which is a method of printing SLA and FDM parts that is 1/12 the weight of regular SLA and FDM parts. The process has allowed lighter props for movies involving huge set pieces, such as the robots in ''Real Steel''. Solid Concepts was ranked in the top twenty manufacturing companies in the greater San Fernando Valley by San Fernando Business Journal in 2007. In 2013, the company was awarded a Platinum Source Preferred Supplier by Northrop Grumman. In 2013, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) recognized a FDM 3D Printed duct manufactured by Solid Concepts. The air duct has been awarded a place in the visitors center at the facility with the purpose of immersing visitors in the evolution of additive manufacturing technology.
In late 2013, the company demonstrated a
3D printed version of an
M1911 pistol
The M1911 (Colt 1911 or Colt Government) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was ''Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911'' for th ...
made of metal, the
1911DMLS, using an industrial 3D printer.
Acquisitions
In 2006, Solid Concepts acquired a model shop from
Raytheon
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitaliza ...
in Tucson, AZ, thus beginning their tooling and molding department. In 2008, Solid Concepts purchased former composites manufacturing company, Composite Tooling Technologies, to further develop a composites line. The acquisition facilitated a $1 million project for large MRI equipment, manufactured by Solid Concepts.
On April 2, 2014,
Stratasys
Stratasys, Ltd. is an American-Israeli manufacturer of 3D printers, software, and materials for polymer additive manufacturing as well as 3D-printed parts on-demand. The company is incorporated in Israel. Engineers use Stratasys systems to model c ...
announced that they had entered into definitive agreements to acquire Solid Concepts and Harvest Technologies, which will be combined with RedEye, its existing digital manufacturing service business, to establish a single additive manufacturing services business unit. The acquisition was finalized on July 15, 2014.
Products and technologies
Solid Concepts manufactures products for a range of industries, including aerospace, business consumer, medical, and transportation. The company manufactures architectural models, prototypes, anatomical models, and investment casting patterns for metal castings using QuickCast SLA. The company largely focused on prototypes during their early years, but have since branched out to manufacture large composite equipment for industrial use, tooling and injection molding, end-use cast urethanes, metals and a range of high quality plastics.
Solid Concepts offers the services of 3D Printing, composites, urethanes, tooling and injection molding rather than selling machines and equipment. Their additive manufacturing services include Stereolithography (SLA), PolyJet, Z-Corp Color 3D Prints, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). The company also provides Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining, composites, advanced cast urethanes, and injection molding and tooling.
* Cast Urethanes: By reinforcing urethanes with
composites and
epoxies
The Epoxies were an American new wave band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000. Heavily influenced by new wave, the band jokingly described themselves as robot garage rock. Members included FM Static on synthesizers, guitarist Viz Spectrum, ...
, the company manufactures urethane prototypes, models, and industrial strength end-use products.
* Composites: Composites, largely focused at the company’s Troy, MI, facility, facilitate industrial strength components used in MRI and medical casings, recreational vehicles, and marine craft. Composites also afford RF Transparency protective equipment, valuable in the medical industry.
* Computer Numerical Controlled Machining (CNC): CNC machining/milling has virtually no material limitation. Solid Concepts incorporates their CNC machining centers for the production of Master Patterns for QuantumCast Cast Urethane products that may require a long mold life.*Stereolithography/ 3D Printing: SLA is the technology that started the company back in 1991. SLA is used to create prototypes, master patterns for investment casting, patterns for cast urethanes, art, and more. As it is a photocurable liquid resin process, the company is able to build large parts by bonding smaller segments. PolyJet is used in similar functions requiring tighter tolerances and smaller builds. SLS and FDM are 3D Printing processes that afford high quality plastics viable in end-use products, while also being used for prototypes. DMLS is viable for metal parts requiring geometries that cannot easily be milled.
* Tooling & Injection Molding: Injection Mold Tooling involves machining a mold—a Core and Cavity—that is used to produce thermoplastic, injected mold parts. The Core and Cavity are created in a variety of metals, typically different compositions of steel. Injection Molded parts are produced via Injection Mold Tooling to fabricate plastic parts. The process involves an injection molding machine, raw plastic material, and the mold (Core and Cavity). Medical, transportation, aerospace, office equipment, consumer products, industrial products, and electronics are a few of the industries that use high volumes of tooling and injection molding. Solid Concepts offers offshore and domestic tooling options.
Applications and industries
Solid Concepts' services are utilized during early prototyping and design, market testing, and low to mass volume production. Solid Concepts' material offerings include durable thermoplastics, resins, nylons, and metals for uses ranging from large components and ducts in aerospace to RF Transparency protective equipment in the medical industry.
Industry specific applications include:
* Aerospace: complex shapes requiring durable plastics in
ailerons
An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement around ...
, air ducts, attachments and inserts; prototypes for testing new methods of reducing aircraft noise or drag. Typical technologies: SLS with PEEK material, FDM with Ultem material
* Architecture: design configurations; testing, form and fit; models for intricate designs. Typical technologies: SLS, PolyJet, SLA
* Automotive: large industrial equipment casings; gas tanks requiring complex conformity; diffusers; plenums. Typical technologies: FDM, SLS
* Design Firms: art models; design intentions and garnering customer interest. Typical technologies include: SLS, PolyJet, SLA, Z-Corp, FDM, and cast urethanes
* Foundries: specialized QuickCast SLA processes; QuickCast's drainable inner matrices are due to low and stable viscosity, high green strength, and low water absorption which mitigates in-vat swelling
* Medical: equipment casings; MRI coils; RF Transparency barriers; anatomical models. Typical technologies: cast urethanes, FDM, SLA, composites
* Unmanned Vehicles: casings and complex pieces for
unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
s and
remotely operated underwater vehicle
A remotely operated underwater vehicle (technically ROUV or just ROV) is a tethered underwater mobile device, commonly called ''underwater robot''.
Definition
This meaning is different from remote control vehicles operating on land or in the a ...
s. Typical technologies: SLS, FDM, and cast urethanes
Headquarters
Headquartered in
Valencia, California
Valencia is an unincorporated community in northwestern Los Angeles County, California. This area, with major commercial and industrial parks, straddles State Route 126 and the Santa Clara River.
Development projects continue to be built in ...
, near the beginnings of the
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the United States Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County in southern Calif ...
, Solid Concepts also has manufacturing facilities in
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States. Its population was 87,294 at the 2020 U.S. census, making Troy the most populous city in the county and the 13th most-populous municipality in the state. Troy is a northern suburb of Me ...
,
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...
, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, and
Poway, California, and a partnership in China.
Manufacturing
Solid Concepts manufactures all products in house.
See also
*
List of notable 3D printed weapons and parts
This is a list of notable 3D printed weapons and parts. The table below lists noteworthy 3D printed weapons (mainly firearms) and parts of weapons as well as items with a defense-related background. It includes 3D printed weapons and parts create ...
List of Best 3D Printers 2018
References
{{Reflist, colwidth=30em
Companies based in California
Manufacturing companies established in 1991
1991 establishments in California
Fused filament fabrication