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Maskless stereo lithography method and apparatus for freeform fabrication of 3-D objects

  • US 20030173713A1
  • Filed: 12/10/2001
  • Published: 09/18/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A maskless stereolithography method of forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae by exposing successive layers of a material to a micro-focused energy beam generated by an array of Fresnel zone plates, comprising:

  • (A) providing a controllable array of Fresnel zone plates;

    (B) forming a layer of material adjacent to any last formed layer of material in preparation for forming a subsequent lamina of the object;

    (C) exposing the material to the micro-focused energy beam to form the subsequent lamina of the object; and

    (D) repeating the steps of forming and exposing a plurality of times in order to form the object from a plurality of adhered laminae, wherein the array of Fresnel zone plates are employed to focus parallel beamlets of energy beam from a source so that said beamlets converge to an array of focal points at predetermined positions of a lamina in accordance with a computer-aided design file of said object.

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