Optics in three-dimensional printing
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- (a) a platform configured to support a material bed, which material bed comprises an exposed surface having (A) an average planarity and (B) an average optical characteristic, which material bed comprises a pre-transformed material that is at least 50 percent diffusive relative to its total reflection, and a transformed material that is at least 80 percent specular relative to its total reflection;
(b) an energy source configured to generate an energy beam, which energy beam is operable to transform a pre-transformed material to the transformed material as part of the three-dimensional object, which three-dimensional object is disposed in the material bed, wherein the three-dimensional object causes at least a portion of the exposed surface to deviate from (I) the average planarity and/or (II) the average optical characteristic, wherein the energy source is disposed adjacent to the platform;
(c) a radiation source configured to generate a structured radiation for projection onto the exposed surface to form a detectable image, wherein the radiation source is disposed adjacent to the energy source; and
(d) a detector configured to detect any deviation using the detectable image, which deviation is indicative of (i) a composition of at least a portion of the three-dimensional object, (ii) a position of the at least the portion of the three-dimensional object, (iii) a shape of the at least the portion of the three-dimensional object, (iv) an average planarity of the exposed surface, or (v) any combination of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), wherein the detector is disposed adjacent to the radiation source.
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides various apparatuses, systems, software, and methods for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The disclosure delineates various optical components of the 3D printing system, their usage, and their optional calibration. The disclosure delineates calibration of one or more components of the 3D printer (e.g., the energy beam).
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a three-dimensional object, comprising:
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(a) a platform configured to support a material bed, which material bed comprises an exposed surface having (A) an average planarity and (B) an average optical characteristic, which material bed comprises a pre-transformed material that is at least 50 percent diffusive relative to its total reflection, and a transformed material that is at least 80 percent specular relative to its total reflection; (b) an energy source configured to generate an energy beam, which energy beam is operable to transform a pre-transformed material to the transformed material as part of the three-dimensional object, which three-dimensional object is disposed in the material bed, wherein the three-dimensional object causes at least a portion of the exposed surface to deviate from (I) the average planarity and/or (II) the average optical characteristic, wherein the energy source is disposed adjacent to the platform; (c) a radiation source configured to generate a structured radiation for projection onto the exposed surface to form a detectable image, wherein the radiation source is disposed adjacent to the energy source; and (d) a detector configured to detect any deviation using the detectable image, which deviation is indicative of (i) a composition of at least a portion of the three-dimensional object, (ii) a position of the at least the portion of the three-dimensional object, (iii) a shape of the at least the portion of the three-dimensional object, (iv) an average planarity of the exposed surface, or (v) any combination of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), wherein the detector is disposed adjacent to the radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for detecting a three-dimensional object, comprising:
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(a) directing an energy beam to an exposed surface of a material bed comprising a pre-transformed material that is at least 50 percent diffusive relative to its total reflection, the exposed surface having an average planarity and an average optical characteristic; (b) transforming the pre-transformed material to a transformed material as part of the three-dimensional object that (I) is disposed in the material bed and (II) causes at least a portion of the exposed surface to deviate from the average planarity and/or the average optical characteristic, which transformed material is at least 80 percent specular relative to its total reflection; (c) projecting a detectable image on the exposed surface; and (d) detecting any deviation using the detectable image from the average planarity and/or from the average optical characteristic, which deviation is indicative of (i) a composition of at least a portion of the three-dimensional object, (ii) a position of the at least the portion of the three-dimensional object relative to a platform supporting the material bed, (iii) a shape of the at least the portion of the three-dimensional object, (iv) an average planarity of the exposed surface, or (v) any combination of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv). - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification