California headquartered advanced prototyping and manufacturing service provider FATHOM has received a patent for the technology behind its online quoting platform for 3D printed parts.
Issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the patent covers the company’s system and methods used to provide price quotes on ISO-certified 3D printed objects. In tandem with the patent, FATHOM has received a ranking on the Inc 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America for the seventh consecutive year, coming in at 3123. The company claims that only 1.5% of businesses have made it onto the list a total of seven times.
“These exciting milestones for FATHOM further highlight our continued commitment to solutions that transform how products are designed, prototyped, and manufactured,” said Michelle Mihevc, Co-Founder and Principal at FATHOM. “Evolving at a fast pace in meaningful ways is how FATHOM maintains its unique position in the marketplace.”
“The core of everything we do is about offering prototyping and production services that help companies drive greater innovation while also accelerating project timelines.”
Combining additive and traditional manufacturing
Founded in 2008, FATHOM was originally a reseller of PolyJet 3D printers from Objet, now part of Stratasys. In 2012, after starting to offer prototyping services, FATHOM made significant investments in its production services, opening a full-service 3D printing facility, and a Seattle-based production center the following year.
Today, FATHOM offers a wide range of advanced prototyping and production services utilizing additive, subtractive and hybrid manufacturing processes. By blending additive technologies and materials with traditional manufacturing methods, the company aims to support other firms by accelerating product development. It has customers across a broad spectrum of industries, ranging from aerospace and automotive to consumer electronics.
In 2017, 3D Printing Industry spoke to Rich Stump, principal and co-founder of FATHOM. Explaining the ethos behind FATHOM manufacturing with a view to the future of 3D printing Rich Stump, told us, “While many futurists have over-speculated the factory of the future and where 3D printing is going, FATHOM has been busy building one,
“The need for design freedom and faster speeds for product development and manufacturing is the base of everything we’re focused on.”
In order to meet the increasing demand for advanced tools and services, FATHOM formed a strategic partnership with GoEngineer, a 3D software specialist and authorized Stratasys reseller, in August 2018. Under the agreement, both companies agreed to promote the cross-industry adoption of additive manufacturing, with the intention of enhancing and accelerating product development and production processes.
Quotes on demand
FATHOM’s on demand manufacturing platform utilizes a price quotation system for 3D printed objects. The new patent related to the internal and external platforms that enable checkout options within the quotation process, such as units, material, finish and quantity of additive manufactured parts to be made.
Full details of the patent, titled “Systems and methods for creating 3D objects,” can be found online here.
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Featured image shows the FATHOM team celebrating 7th consecutive year on the Inc 5000 list. Photo via FATHOM.
