Chuck Hull, 3D Printing Pioneer, Honored

3D Systems announces that Charles (Chuck) Hull, its co-founder and chief technology officer for regenerative medicine, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to the NAE, according to 3D Systems, is among the higher professional distinctions accorded to an engineer, 3D Systems reports.

Chuck Hull, 3D Systems. Image courtesy 3D Systems.

Academy membership honors those who have made sizable contributions in at least one of the following categories: “engineering practice, research, or education,” “pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or development/implementation of innovative approaches to engineering education,” or “engineering leadership of one or more major endeavors." NAE members are among the world’s accomplished engineers from business, academia, and government. Hull is being honored for the invention of 3D printing and the subsequent development of the additive manufacturing industry.

"It is humbling to be elected to this academy of distinguished engineers,” says Hull. “I'm honored and excited to serve and work alongside such outstanding professionals to advance the positive impact engineering has on our world."

Hull pioneered the development of 3D printing while vice president of Engineering at UVP, Inc. (now Analytik Jena), a manufacturer of ultraviolet light sources. His work on fusing UV resins into 3D structures for prototyping led to the creation of the first 3D-printed part, an eye wash cup, in 1983 using Stereolithography (SLA). He patented this technology and subsequently co-founded 3D Systems in 1986, then launching a commercial 3D printer, the SLA-1, and establishing the 3D printing industry.

Hull's invention has earned him numerous accolades, according to 3D Systems. In October of 2023, he received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) from former President Joe Biden. Established in 1980, the NMTI is the United States’ highest honor for technological achievement, awarded by the President of the United States for contributions to America’s economic, environmental, and social well-being. Hull was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2014) and received the European Inventor Award (2014) for his impact.

His contributions have also been recognized with the Manufacturing Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), and the ASME's designation of the SLA-1 as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. With 85 U.S. patents and numerous international patents in ion optics and 3D printing, Hull has a legacy as an inventor.

“On behalf of the entire 3D Systems team, it is my pleasure to extend our deepest congratulations to Chuck for this honor,” says Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems. “His pioneering work has revolutionized manufacturing and profoundly impacted healthcare delivery. Chuck's invention of Stereolithography not only launched an entire industry but also sparked the proliferation of numerous applications for 3D printing technologies. Thanks to Chuck's groundbreaking initial innovation with SLA, we are transforming manufacturing and patient care for a better future.”

Hull is among 128 new members and 22 international members in the NAE Class of 2025. Elected by their peers, the ballot for this class was set in December and the final vote took place in January. He and his class will be formally inducted during the NAE's Annual Meeting on October 5, 2025.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.