Method and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by photosolidification
First Claim
1. In a 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 emitting radiation directly into desired areas within a quanity of said uncured photopolymer.
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Abstract
An improved method of forming three-dimensional objects comprises irradiating an uncured photopolymer by emitting an effective amount of photopolymer solidifying radiation directly into a desired area inside of uncured photopolymer using an immersed radiation guide. The radiation is emitted through a material which leaves the irradiated surface capable of further cross-linking so that when an adjacent area is irradiated, it will adhere thereto. Repeating the irradiation for all areas in desired sequence, any three-dimensional object can be made; depending on the size of the emitted beam and the amount of emitted energy, objects can be formed point by point, post by post, area by area or layer by layer.
168 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a 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 emitting radiation directly into desired areas within a quanity of said uncured photopolymer.
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2. A method of preparing three-dimensional objects which comprises:
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(a) providing a quantity of uncured photopolymer, (b) positioning a radiation-emitting surface within a quanity of uncured photopolymer in contact with area of said photopolymer to be irradiated, (c) emitting photopolymer solidifying radiation from said radiation emitting surface in an amount effective to cause photopolymer to solidify to the desired extent. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for producing of three-dimensional objects from photopolymer, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a container for an uncured photopolymer, (b) a radiation emitting surface adapted to come into contact with desired area within the photopolymer which is inside said container; and (c) a source of photopolymer solidifying radiation adapted to transmit an effective amount of radiation through said radiation emitting surface into said desired area inside the photopolymer so that at least a portion of said desired area inside photopolymer will solidify. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification