Charles W. Hull was born on 12 May 1939, in Grand Junction, Colorado USA, and is an executive and inventor, best known for being the chief technology officer of 3D Systems, where he also serves as the company’s executive vice president. Most importantly, he is the inventor of the process of stereolithography also known as 3D Printing, but all of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Chuck Hull? As of mid-2017, sources estimate a net worth that is at $20 million, mostly earned through success in his inventions – he also invented rapid prototyping technology and the STL file format, and holds more than 60 patents around the world, which have certainly helped ensure the position of his wealth.
Chuck Hull Net Worth $20 million
Chuck grew up in Clifton and Gateway, Colorado, and matriculated from Central High School, after which he would attend the University of Colorado studying engineering physics, and graduating in 1961.
Hull got his idea of stereolithography in 1983 while he was hardening tabletop coatings using UV light. The following years, French inventors would file for the patent for the process however, their application was abandoned by the French General Electric Company. The process didn’t proved viable for the company, and so later Hull was able to file a patent terming it stereolithography, citing the production of three-dimensional objects which would later lead to the term 3D printing. According to him, he could make solid objects by successively printing thin layers of material than can be cured with ultraviolet light. The thin layers are put on top of each other to create the object, and the light would be controlled by a computer which would draw each layer of the object. Software was also made to support the slicing of the model into the object, and making sure each thin layer interacted well. It starts by building a bottom layer then moving up and solidifying each successive layer.
In the same year, Chuck also founded 3D Systems, and started commercial rapid prototyping. He discovered that the sterolithography process was not limited to liquids and that it could be used on any material that is capable of solidification; any material that was able to alter its physical state could be used. He then worked on adding more patents to build a portfolio which would allow additive manufacturing, including on data preparations and the STL file format to support the triangulated models. The file format also allowed slicing and various other strategies. 3D Systems grew quickly, and his net worth also increased with the growth.
Thanks to his success, Hull was awarded the 2014 European Inventor Award given by the European Patent Office. The following year, he was awarded the IRI Achievement Award by the Industrial Research Institute thanks to his invention of stereolithography. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
For his personal life, it is known that Chuck married Anntoinette and they have two children. He is now often called the father of 3D printing.
