Apparatus for fabrication of three dimensional objects
First Claim
1. An apparatus for bottom-up fabrication of three dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising:
- a vat for a photosensitive polymer, a floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object;
a build platform configured to be inserted into the vat, the build platform having a planar surface;
an elevator mechanism configured to adjust a separation between the working surface of the vat and the planar surface of the build platform; and
a rotation mechanism configured to vary a relative rotational position of the vat relative to the build platform, the relative rotational position being about an axis which is normal to the working surface of the vat;
wherein the floor includes a first floor portion of a first thickness and a second floor portion of a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness;
wherein the first floor portion has a first vertical side, the second floor portion has a second vertical side, and the first vertical side directly contacts the second vertical side, and wherein the rotation mechanism is configured to vary the relative rotational position about the axis between a first position and a second position, the first position locating the first floor portion under the planar surface of the build platform to fabricate the portion of the three dimensional object at the working surface, and the second position locating the second floor portion under the planar surface to increase a depth of the photosensitive polymer between the portion of the three dimensional object and the floor of the vat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for bottom-up fabrication of three dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising: a vat for a photosensitive polymer, the floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object; a build platform capable of being inserted into the vat, the build platform having a planar surface; an elevator mechanism capable of adjusting the separation between the working surface of the vat and the planar surface of the build platform; and a rotation mechanism capable of varying the relative rotational position of the vat relative to the build platform, the relative rotation being about an axis which is normal to the working surface of the vat.
124 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for bottom-up fabrication of three dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising:
- a vat for a photosensitive polymer, a floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object;
a build platform configured to be inserted into the vat, the build platform having a planar surface;
an elevator mechanism configured to adjust a separation between the working surface of the vat and the planar surface of the build platform; and
a rotation mechanism configured to vary a relative rotational position of the vat relative to the build platform, the relative rotational position being about an axis which is normal to the working surface of the vat;
wherein the floor includes a first floor portion of a first thickness and a second floor portion of a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness;
wherein the first floor portion has a first vertical side, the second floor portion has a second vertical side, and the first vertical side directly contacts the second vertical side, and wherein the rotation mechanism is configured to vary the relative rotational position about the axis between a first position and a second position, the first position locating the first floor portion under the planar surface of the build platform to fabricate the portion of the three dimensional object at the working surface, and the second position locating the second floor portion under the planar surface to increase a depth of the photosensitive polymer between the portion of the three dimensional object and the floor of the vat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a vat for a photosensitive polymer, a floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object;
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11. An apparatus for bottom-up fabrication of three dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising:
- a vat for a photosensitive polymer, a floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object;
a build platform configured to be inserted into the vat, the build platform having a planar surface;
an elevator mechanism configured to adjust a separation between the working surface of the vat and the planar surface of the build platform; and
a rotation mechanism configured to vary a relative rotational position of the vat relative to the build platform, the relative rotational position being about an axis which is normal to the working surface of the vat;
wherein the floor includes a first floor portion of a first thickness and a second floor portion of a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness; and
wherein the rotation mechanism is configured to vary the relative rotational position about the axis between a first position and a second position, the first position locating the first floor portion under the planar surface of the build platform to fabricate the portion of the three dimensional object at the working surface, and the second position locating the second floor portion under the planar surface to increase a depth of the photosensitive polymer between the portion of the three dimensional object and the floor of the vat. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- a vat for a photosensitive polymer, a floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object;
Specification