The 1980s were about inventing the tools; the 1990s were about proving they worked. In this decade, 3D technology expanded beyond secretive engineering labs. It began saving lives in hospitals and entertaining millions in movie theaters. However, for the average person, owning a 3D printer was still a distant dream—these machines were exclusively for the elite.
1995 - The Pixar Revolution
While engineers were printing prototypes, artists were pushing the limits of 3D design software. In 1995, Pixar released Toy Story, the first feature-length film made entirely with Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI).
Why does this matter for printing? Because 3D printing requires a 3D model. Toy Story proved that creating complex, organic, and emotional 3D characters was possible. The software tools developed for movies (like Maya and 3ds Max) eventually trickled down to designers, giving them the power to sculpt the complex figures we print today.
The Medical Miracle (1999)
Perhaps the most inspiring milestone of the decade happened in a laboratory at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Anthony Atala and his team achieved the impossible: they created the first lab-grown organ implanted in a human.
They used a 3D-printed biodegradable scaffold in the shape of a urinary bladder. They then coated this scaffold with the patient's own cells. The cells grew, the plastic scaffold dissolved, and the patient received a functional new organ. This was the grandfather of modern Bioprinting.
The Era of "Rapid Prototyping"
In the 90s, nobody called it "3D Printing." The industry term was Rapid Prototyping (RP). Automotive giants like Ford, BMW, and Mercedes began filling their R&D centers with massive SLA and FDM machines.
Before RP, if an engineer wanted to test a new door handle, they had to wait weeks for a machinist to carve it from metal or wood. With RP, they could have the part in hand the next morning. This drastically accelerated the development of cars, airplanes, and consumer electronics.
The "Expensive" Problem
Despite the utility, the technology remained locked away. Why?
- Cost: A typical machine cost between $50,000 and $500,000.
- Patents: 3D Systems and Stratasys held iron-clad patents on SLA and FDM technologies. No one else could legally make these machines, keeping prices artificially high and competition low.
- Complexity: These were not plug-and-play devices. They required dedicated operators and hazardous chemical handling.
Summary of the Decade
The 90s proved that 3D technology was not a fad. It was becoming essential for manufacturing and medicine. But as the millennium approached, a new question arose: "When will this be available for the rest of us?" The answer would come in the next decade with the expiration of patents and a movement called RepRap.