Material delivery tension and tracking system for use in solid imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A solid imaging system with a solidifiable liquid build material that layer-by-layer forms a three-dimensional object form cross-sectional data, comprising in combination:
- a. a frame;
b. a solidifiable liquid build material dispenser connected to the frame having an opening through which the build material is dispensed;
c. an endless flexible build material carrier rotatable mounted to the frame, the carrier having a first side and opposing second side between a first edge and an opposing second edge, the first side receiving liquid build material in a fluid wedge from the build material dispenser;
d. a radiation source mounted on the frame effective upon activation to selectively solidify the liquid build material;
e. a radiation modulating device to selectively illuminate pixels in each layer of the three-dimensional object to solidify the build material; and
f. build material carrier tensioning means mounted to the frame controlling the tension in the build material carrier as the build material carrier rotates about a predetermined path past the opening in the build material dispenser effective to control the fluid wedge so that less tension creates a thicker layer of build material received by the build material carrier and increased tension creates a thinner layer of build material received by the build material carrier.
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Abstract
A solid imaging apparatus and method employing a radiation transparent build material carrier and a build material dispensing system that accurately controls the thickness of the transferred layer of solidifiable liquid build material to the radiation transparent build material carrier to achieve high resolution imaging in three-dimensional objects built using an electro-optical radiation source.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A solid imaging system with a solidifiable liquid build material that layer-by-layer forms a three-dimensional object form cross-sectional data, comprising in combination:
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a. a frame;
b. a solidifiable liquid build material dispenser connected to the frame having an opening through which the build material is dispensed;
c. an endless flexible build material carrier rotatable mounted to the frame, the carrier having a first side and opposing second side between a first edge and an opposing second edge, the first side receiving liquid build material in a fluid wedge from the build material dispenser;
d. a radiation source mounted on the frame effective upon activation to selectively solidify the liquid build material;
e. a radiation modulating device to selectively illuminate pixels in each layer of the three-dimensional object to solidify the build material; and
f. build material carrier tensioning means mounted to the frame controlling the tension in the build material carrier as the build material carrier rotates about a predetermined path past the opening in the build material dispenser effective to control the fluid wedge so that less tension creates a thicker layer of build material received by the build material carrier and increased tension creates a thinner layer of build material received by the build material carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification