NEWS: pr-Oct. 15, 2003

3D Systems Announces the Availability of LaserForm A6 Steel for the SLS System New steel tooling material developed to reduce tooling costs and speed up injection molding cycle times
Contact: Elizabeth Goode, Director Marketing (661) 295-5600, ext. 2632	LaserForm A6 steel product can be machined, EDM processed, polished, drilled, etched and textured. Incorporate conformal cooling channels into the design –(as shown above)
VALENCIA, Calif., Oct. 15, 2003 - 3D Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: TDSC). 3D Systems Corp. announced the availability of its new product LaserForm™ A6 steel for the SLS® (selective laser sintering) system. The LaserForm A6 steel product is the latest addition to the family of metals for use with the SLS system for rapid and low-cost manufacture of plastic injection molding tools, complex metal parts, prototype parts, and other applications such as die casting tools and thermoforming tools. “With the introduction of LaserForm A6 steel, we are confident that we have achieved the development of a true production-ready steel product for our laser sintering system solution,” said Chuck Hull, Chief Technology Officer for 3D Systems. “The LaserForm A6 steel product was designed to meet the needs of the highly competitive tooling market for injection molding of plastic parts. This industry requires a technology solution that enables higher productivity while drastically reducing costs,” said Hull. “In order to successfully compete with conventional CNC and EDM in this market, the on demand manufacturing process (rapid tooling), must not only be faster, but must also substantially improve throughput of injection molding equipment while meeting rigorous requirements for accuracy, surface finish, detail and durability. Our new LaserForm A6 steel product offers excellent attributes for toolmaking and metal part production. When processed through our SLS system the LaserForm A6 steel has a production tooling hardness of Rockwell c10-20 and can be heat-treated up to HRc39. Just like traditional metals, 3D Systems’ LaserForm A6 steel product can be machined, EDM processed, polished, etched, welded, textured and more.”
The Vanguard™ SLS® system from 3D Systems	LaserForm A6 steel product represents a new class of steel developed for our SLS system solution. This new product combined with a new process enables rapid layer fabrication of high performance production injection molding tools and inserts, as well as durable, high strength steel parts for short run production. This results in finished tooling with up to 50% faster injection molding cycle times over conventional steel tooling, made possible by higher thermal conductivity and conformal cooling. Several technical advancements were required to achieve this material breakthrough, including optimal use of tungsten carbide for hardness and wear resistance, a new process for consistent part accuracy and a new binder system with outstanding green strength that enables the fabrication of fine detail, highly complex geometry, as well as the conformal cooling channels. In addition to the advancements in material we are introducing a new high purity proprietary infiltrant for improved part surface finish straight out of the process and a completely new scanning technology for consistent run-to-run system performance, mechanical properties and accuracy of parts and tools.
“The development of the LaserForm A6 steel product is a significant achievement which enables the tooling industry to design, develop and manufacture tools in a fraction of the time and cost required with more traditional methods,” said Abe Reichental, CEO and president, 3D Systems. “We are excited about our ability to achieve tooling industry customer requirements at our initial customer installations and view tooling and parts manufacturing as an exciting key market for our expanding rapid prototyping and on demand manufacturing system solutions.” The LaserForm A6 steel product has undergone rigorous use in the US including testing at Microplastics, Inc., St. Charles, IL. Microplastics serves the automotive, computer, appliance, telecommunications, medical, and electronics industries, making them an ideal beta site for the LaserForm A6 steel product. The facility houses a full-service tool room with advanced CNC and EDM capabilities. “In answering our customers’ requirements for faster program development at reduced cost, Microplastics has invested in the SLS system and the LaserForm A6 steel product, allowing us to participate in the earliest stages of our customers’ product development cycle by providing both direct functional Polyamide plastic parts with our DuraForm material and rapid prototype tooling with our LaserForm A6 steel,” Jim Spaniol, National Sales Manager for Microplastics Inc. “By working with the Microplastics team, we can assure our customers that their insert molded project will be developed with reduced cost in less time while providing team continuity from conception through production. With the development of the LaserForm A6 steel product we are able to dramatically cut lead times and reduce tooling costs. We now have the ability to compete with some of the global tooling challenges that we are faced with,” continued Spaniol. The new LaserForm A6 steel product and the SLS system is ideal for designers, parts manufacturers and toolmakers to increase manufacturing efficiency and productivity by offering rapid, cost-effective low-volume manufacturing of end-use metal parts, and near net shape tools for injection molding and die casting. About 3D Systems Founded in 1986, 3D Systems®, the solid imaging company^SM, provides solid imaging products and systems solutions that reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing. Its systems utilize patented proprietary technologies to create physical objects from digital input that can be used in design communication, prototyping, and as functional end-use parts. 3D Systems offers a wide range of imaging, communication rapid prototyping and on demand manufacturing systems including the MJM product line (InVision 3-D printer and ThermoJet® solid object printer), SLA® (stereolithography) systems, SLS® (selective laser sintering) systems, and Accura® materials (including photopolymers, metals, nylons, engineering plastics, and thermoplastics). More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com, or by phoning 888/337-9786, or 661/295-5600 ext. 2882 internationally, or email moreinfo@3dsystems.com. About Microplastics, Inc. Incorporated in 1989 by founder Mike Roberts, Microplastics has grown from a 1500 foot facility in Batavia, IL to their current 50,000 square foot “State of the Art” facility in St. Charles IL. Microplastics specializes in insert molding technology and with the recent addition of Selective Laser Sintering Microplastics exceeds the capabilities of their competition. Serving automotive, computer, appliance, telecommunications, medical and electronics customers, Microplastics offers a wealth of applications and experience. Switches, relays, lighting components, connectors, timers, sensors, filters and disc and tape drive components are among the many products we have manufactured in our dedicated insert molding facility. Microplastics ships product worldwide and maintains distribution centers in Singapore & Texas. Note to editors: ADM and the solid imaging company are service marks; and InVision is a trademark; and ThermoJet, SLA, SLS, Accura, 3D Systems and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems Inc. The information contained in this press release includes "forward-looking statements". The company cautions readers not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those described in this release, for the reasons, among others, discussed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.