Modelling Plate for a Stereolithography Machine, Stereolithography Machine Using Said Modelling Plate and Tool for Cleaning Said Modelling Plate

• US 20120328726A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dws S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Dws S.R.L.
• Inventors: Zenere, Sergio
• Application Number:
  US13/517,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20120328726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/135 the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/245 Platforms or substrates support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling

Abstract

The invention is a modelling plate (6; 6′; 6″) for a stereolithography machine (1) suited to produce three-dimensional objects (A) through superimposition of a plurality of layers (E) with predefined thickness of a liquid substance (3) that solidifies when subjected to a selective stimulation (4). The plate (6; 6′; 6″) comprises a work surface (7) that supports the object (A) and grooves (8) made in the work surface (7) along a development trajectory (X).

Claims

1. ) Modelling plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) for a stereolithography machine (1) suited to produce three-dimensional objects (A) through superimposition of a plurality of layers (E) with predefined thickness of a liquid substance (3) suited to solidify when subjected to a selective stimulation (4), said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) comprising a work surface (7) suited to support said object (A), characterized in that it comprises at least one groove (8) made in said work surface (7) along a development trajectory (X).

2. ) Plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) according to claim 1), characterized in that the depth (9) of said groove (8) exceeds the predefined thickness of said layers (E).

3. ) Plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) according to claim 1) or 2), characterized in that said groove (8) extends to the perimeter edge of said work surface (7) so as to have at least one open end at the level of the lateral surface of said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

).

4. ) Plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) according to claim 3), characterized in that said groove (8) has both ends open at the level of said lateral surface of said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

).

5. ) Plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said groove (8) has a uniform cross section (11, 11′

, 11″

) along said development trajectory (X).

6. ) Plate (6′

) according to claim 5), characterized in that said cross section (11′

) has at least one area (12) whose width exceeds the width (10) of said cross section (11′

) at the level of said work surface (7).

7. ) Plate (6″

) according to claim 5) or 6), characterized in that the profile of said cross section (11″

) has a recess (13) on at least one of the side edges of said cross section (11″

).

8. ) Plate (6, 6′

, 6″

) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said grooves (8) parallel to each other.

9. ) Stereolithography machine (1) for the production of three-dimensional objects, comprising:

a tank (2) suited to contain a liquid substance (3) that solidifies when it is subjected to a selective stimulation (4);

emission means (5) suited to generate said selective stimulation (4) and to convey it towards said tank (2),

characterized in that it comprises a modelling plate (6;

6′

;

6″

) according to any of the claims from 1) to 8).

10. ) Machine (1) according to claim 9), characterized in that said plate (6;

6;

6″

) is arranged with said work surface (7) facing the bottom (2a) of said tank (2).

11. ) Machine (1) according to claim 9) or 10), characterized in that it comprises a tool (14) for cleaning said modelling plate (6;

6′

;

6″

), comprising a supporting body (15) from which at least one elongated element (16) develops, configured so that it can slide inside a corresponding groove (8) of said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

).

12. ) Machine (1) according to claim 11), characterized in that said tool (14) comprises a supporting body (15) from which a plurality of elongated elements (16) develop, each one of which is configured so that it can slide inside a corresponding groove (8) of said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

), said elongated elements (16) being mutually parallel and arranged according to a reference plane (Y) at mutual distances that are the same as the mutual distances between the corresponding grooves (8).

13. ) Machine (1) according to claim 11) or 12), characterized in that the width (17) of each one of said elongated elements (16) with respect to a direction parallel to said reference plane (Y) is substantially equal to the width (10) of the corresponding groove (8) of said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

).

14. ) Machine (1) according to any of the claims from 11) to 13), characterized in that the thickness (18) of each one of said elongated elements (16) in a direction orthogonal to said reference plane (Y) does not exceed the depth (9) of the corresponding groove (8).

15. ) Machine (1) according to any of the claims from 11) to 14), characterized in that said elongated elements (16) have rounded ends (16a).

16. ) Machine (1) according to any of the claims from 11) to 15), characterized in that said elongated elements (16) are flexible.

17. ) Machine (1) according to any of the claims from 11) to 16), characterized in that the hardness of said elongated elements (16) is lower than the hardness of said plate (6;

6′

;

6″

).