12-23-2019: Carl Deckard—pioneer of 3D printing and inventor of SLS technology—passed away
Deckard held 27 patents, including the pivotal one for SLS
On December 23, 2019, the 3D printing world was shaken by the news of the death of Carl Deckard, the legendary inventor of SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) technology and one of the foremost pioneers in additive manufacturing research dating back to the early 1980s. Deckard, who held 27 patents, including the pivotal one for SLS, was instrumental in bringing to market the first machines capable of printing with powdered polymers and metals. He passed away a day before Christmas Eve at the age of 58.
Deckard’s journey toward inventing one of the earliest additive manufacturing methods began in 1981. After his first year of college, he took a summer job at TRW Mission in Houston, a company manufacturing parts for the oil industry. Observing how metal sheets were being cut using a CAD-controlled system, he saw immense potential in automating this process.
Over the following years, Deckard delved deeper into the subject and began specializing in industrial laser applications. In 1984, he conceptualized the use of laser or electron beams to selectively melt portions of powdered material layers based on CAD designs.
His project caught the attention of Dr. Joe Beaman, who supported the talented student. Their collaboration soon led to the creation of SLS technology and the founding of DTM in 1987, one of the first companies to produce machines using this method.
The first SLS machines entered the market in 1992, with Sandia National Labs as one of the initial customers. Almost a decade later, in 2001, DTM was acquired by 3D Systems, a company founded by Charles Hull, the officially recognized inventor of additive manufacturing technology.
After selling DTM, Deckard took up a teaching position at Clemson University and later developed a four-stroke engine with only one moving part. In 2011, he returned to the 3D printing industry with Structured Polymers, where his team developed groundbreaking materials for SLS technology. Some of these materials were later acquired by the chemical giant Evonik.
Carl Deckard left behind an extraordinary legacy that transformed modern industry. SLS technology has become a cornerstone of additive manufacturing, enabling innovative solutions across countless industries. Deckard was not only a brilliant engineer but also a visionary who saw potential where others saw only challenges.
Source: www.centrumdruku3d.pl