PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOPHYSICS OF HYDROXYFLUORONES AND XANTHENES

Laser-initiated photopolymerization has opened the doors to the rapid prototyping revolution. Driven by computer control, the polymerization process can create plastic models which conform accurately to a progr ammed design in three dimensions. The control programs may be derived from various sources including CAD files, CT scans or other tomographi c medical imaging sources such as MRI in a process called ''stereolith ography''. Models formed by stereolithography conform concisely to a d esign pattern in all dimensions, and the process has shortened the tim e required for implementation from months to days in industries rangin g from automotive and glass to medical devices.