THREE DIMENSIONAL (3D) PRINTER WITH NEAR INSTANTANEOUS OBJECT PRINTING USING A PHOTO-CURING LIQUID
First Claim
1. An apparatus for generating a physical three dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a print chamber with one or more sidewalls enclosing an interior void adapted for containing liquids;
a liquid print matrix positioned in the interior void of the print chamber; and
an optical assembly operating to focus light into the interior void of the print chamber o initiate curing processes for a volume of the liquid print matrix to form a 3D object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus or three dimensional (3D) printer is provided for generating a 3D object. The apparatus includes a print chamber and a liquid print matrix such as a photo-curing resin positioned in the print chamber. The apparatus includes an optical assembly focusing light into the print chamber in the form of a real image whose light initiates curing processes for a volume of the liquid print matrix to form the 3D object. The light focused into the print chamber has a wavelength within a wavelength curing range for the photo-curing resin. The real image may be formed using an optical assembly reflecting or redirecting and focusing light reflected from outer surfaces of an existing 3D object. The real image may also be provided in the form of a volumetric image displayed by a volumetric display device displaying planes of a 3D digital model or image of a 3D object.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a physical three dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
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a print chamber with one or more sidewalls enclosing an interior void adapted for containing liquids; a liquid print matrix positioned in the interior void of the print chamber; and an optical assembly operating to focus light into the interior void of the print chamber o initiate curing processes for a volume of the liquid print matrix to form a 3D object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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5. The apparatus of 4, wherein the photo-curing resin is transmissive of light having a wavelength in the wavelength curing range when in liquid form and when in hardened form.
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13. A 3D printer, comprising:
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a tank containing a volume of a photo-curing liquid; a light source directing light, having a wavelength that initiates curing of the photo-curing liquid, onto a 3D object; and optics receiving portions of the light reflected from surfaces of the 3D object and, in response, displaying a real image within the photo-curing liquid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for forming a 3D object, comprising:
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providing a volume of photo-curing resin; displaying a real image of a target 3D object for printing within the photo-curing liquid, wherein light used to display the real image has a wavelength in a curing wavelength range for the photo-curing resin; and continuing the displaying of the real image for a curing time for the photo-curing resin at an intensity of the light used to display the real image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification