Gideon Levy HoF
Many of the previous inductees to the TCT Hall of Fame have been the inventors of 3D printers. The likes of Chuck Hull, Carl Deckard, Ely Sachs, and Scott Crump were singular in their vision of creating a technology to fulfill a specific need.
Our Inductee for 2019 is responsible for broadening the applications of those technologies to the point where we now have a dedicated awards ceremony.
Professor Gideon Levy's work both academically and industrially has unlocked additive technologies across the broad spectrum of manufacturing. Shortlisted by his peers, Prof Levy fought off stiff competition in the public vote from the likes of Graham Tromans, Phill Dickens, Todd Grimm and Terry Wohlers.
After studying mechanical engineering, Gideon became a fellow at The International Academy for Production Engneering -CIRP, the world-leading exclusive organization in production engineering research. It was at CIRP in 1990 when Gideon first heard the MIT presentation on 3D Printing, from that day forward he became a pivotal member of the AM community.
In 1996, Gideon moved from executive positions in industry to academia to become a Professor of Mechatronics at the University of Applied Sciences, St Gallen Switzerland. It was here that he set up the RPD (Rapid Product Development) Institute. The RPD Institute's technology included both SLA and SLS systems; it was the latter technology that Prof Levy's completely revolutionised.
The materials supplied with the early DTM/3D Systems SLS machines were not suitable for functional prototyping due to processability and mechanical properties and how the materials degraded. Prof Levy's group were challenged to create a more repeatable and durable material for SLS. In March 1997, PA12 material (commercialised as DuraForm PA) for SLS was shown to the world and it has gone on to be one of 3D printing’s most commonly used materials.
"Intensive research and process understanding enabled us to achieve similar geometrical and mechanical properties to today's materials," Professor Levy tells TCT. "The PA12 material was followed by many other filled, compounded and new grades like semi-crystallin and amorph grades with specific targeted properties or applications such as stiffness or polystyrene for investment castings patterns."
Prof Levy went on to work with many of the technologies in use today, he was a beta tester for Objet/Stratasys inkjet printers, in metals assisting with Concept Laser's R&D. He currently holds over 30 patents and has published over 250 scientific and technical publications. He is presently active at Technology Turn Around (TTA), consulting significant players in industry education and research on AM.
The third annual TCT Awards will take place on Wednesday 25th September at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
