Method and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by photosolidification
First Claim
1. In the method of preparing three-dimensional objects from an uncured photopolymer by treating the photopolymer with radiation to solidify the polymer, the improvement which comprises irradiating said uncured photopolymer by transmitting radiation through a transmittent material in contact with the uncured photopolymer, said material being a material which does not interfere with the solidified photopolymer'"'"'s ability to subsequently cross-link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method of forming three-dimensional objects comprises irradiating an uncured photopolymer by transmitting an effective amount of photopolymer solidifying radiation through a radiation transmittent material which is in contact with the uncured photopolymer. The transmittent material is a material which leaves the irradiated surface capable of further cross-linking so that when a subsequent layer is formed it will adhere thereto. Using this method multilayer objects can be made.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. In the method of preparing three-dimensional objects from an uncured photopolymer by treating the photopolymer with radiation to solidify the polymer, the improvement which comprises irradiating said uncured photopolymer by transmitting radiation through a transmittent material in contact with the uncured photopolymer, said material being a material which does not interfere with the solidified photopolymer'"'"'s ability to subsequently cross-link.
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3. A method of preparing three-dimensional objects which comprises:
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(a) providing a quantity of an uncured photopolymer in a container; (b) placing in contact with said photopolymer a transmittent, relatively rigid member which does not significantly interfere with the subsequent cross-linking of said photopolymer and which can be removed after irradiation; and
,(c) then transmitting photopolymer solidifying radiation through said relatively rigid member in an amount effective to cause said photopolymer to solidify to the desired extent. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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9. An apparatus for porducing of three-dimensional objects from photopolymer, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a quantity of an uncured photopolymer; (b) a radiation transmittent member having a surface adapted to come into contact with the photopolymer; (c) means for preserving subsequent cross-linking capability of the photopolymer; and (d) a source of photopolymer solidifying radiation adapted to transmit an effective amount of radiation through said relatively rigid member into said photopolymer so that at least a portion of said photopolymer will solidify. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 27)
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- 18. In the method of forming a three-dimensional object by the irradiation of a photopolymer, the improvement which comprises providing a quantity of photopolymer, said quantity being thicker than the object to be formed, covering a surface of said photopolymer with a rigid radiating transmitting member, irradiating each area of said member to form an object of the desired thickness in each area.
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24. A method of producing a three-dimensional object in a container, which comprises irradiating polymer through a radiation transmittent rigid member to cause the polymer to solidify upon a substrate in the container, then sliding the solidified polymer off the substrate while keeping it attached to the rigid member.
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25. An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from a photopolymer, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a quantity of an uncured photopolymer; and (b) a source of photopolymer solidifying radiation which is capable of varying the amount of radiation it emits to different areas of said photopolymer so that the depth of solidification can be varied in said different areas.
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Specification