Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional objects using a tilting solidification substrate
First Claim
1. A method of making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material having a viscosity, comprising:
- determining if the viscosity exceeds a selected viscosity threshold and carrying out the following steps if the viscosity exceeds the selected viscosity threshold;
solidifying a first layer of the solidifiable material in a first pattern corresponding to a first portion of the three-dimensional object to form a first solidified exposed object surface in contact with a solidification substrate assembly, wherein the first layer of the solidifiable material is located between a build platform and the solidification substrate assembly along a build axis, and the solidification substrate assembly comprises one selected from a film assembly and a solidification substrate laminate;
first tilting the solidification substrate assembly about a tilting axis in a direction away from the build platform;
moving the build platform away from the solidification substrate assembly within a volume of the solidifiable material to provide a second layer of solidifiable material between the solidified exposed object surface and the solidification substrate assembly;
second tilting the solidification substrate assembly about the tilting axis in a direction toward the build platform; and
solidifying the second layer of the solidifiable material in a second pattern corresponding to a second portion of the three-dimensional object.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device is shown and described. The apparatus includes a solidification substrate assembly that is tiltable about a tilting axis to peel a solidification substrate from a recently formed object surface and to level the solidification substrate assembly and squeeze out accumulated solidifiable material between the solidification substrate and the recently formed object surface. Intelligent peeling and leveling may also be provided by providing a tilting parameter database that is used to adjust tilting parameters based on object geometry and/or solidifiable material properties.
45 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material having a viscosity, comprising:
determining if the viscosity exceeds a selected viscosity threshold and carrying out the following steps if the viscosity exceeds the selected viscosity threshold; solidifying a first layer of the solidifiable material in a first pattern corresponding to a first portion of the three-dimensional object to form a first solidified exposed object surface in contact with a solidification substrate assembly, wherein the first layer of the solidifiable material is located between a build platform and the solidification substrate assembly along a build axis, and the solidification substrate assembly comprises one selected from a film assembly and a solidification substrate laminate; first tilting the solidification substrate assembly about a tilting axis in a direction away from the build platform; moving the build platform away from the solidification substrate assembly within a volume of the solidifiable material to provide a second layer of solidifiable material between the solidified exposed object surface and the solidification substrate assembly; second tilting the solidification substrate assembly about the tilting axis in a direction toward the build platform; and solidifying the second layer of the solidifiable material in a second pattern corresponding to a second portion of the three-dimensional object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification