Stereolithographic apparatus and method of use
First Claim
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1. A stereolithographic apparatus comprising:
- a vat for receiving a stereolithographic liquid;
a working surface within the vat;
an elevating mechanism for controlling the level of the liquid in the vat relative to the working surface; and
at least one exposure head, each exposure head comprising an illumination source for emitting radiation, the radiation operable to harden the liquid, and an area array deformable mirror device responsive to applied signals for selectively reflecting the radiation to form an image on the surface of the liquid, wherein said exposure head is movable in two dimensions.
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Abstract
A stereolithographic apparatus is disclosed comprising a vat, a working surface in the vat, an elevating mechanism for controlling the level of liquid within the vat relative to the working surface, an illumination source for emitting radiation, and an area array deformable mirror device. The illumination source emits radiation which is operable to harden a stereolithographic liquid, while the deformable mirror device is operable to reflect the incident radiation onto the surface of the liquid. The deformable mirror device can harden an entire lamina of liquid in one brief exposure interval increasing throughout without sacrificing resolution.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A stereolithographic apparatus comprising:
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a vat for receiving a stereolithographic liquid; a working surface within the vat; an elevating mechanism for controlling the level of the liquid in the vat relative to the working surface; and at least one exposure head, each exposure head comprising an illumination source for emitting radiation, the radiation operable to harden the liquid, and an area array deformable mirror device responsive to applied signals for selectively reflecting the radiation to form an image on the surface of the liquid, wherein said exposure head is movable in two dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A stereolithographic exposure head for use with a stereolithographic apparatus, the exposure head comprising:
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a plurality of mirrors individually responsive to input signals, the mirrors operable to reflect incident radiation along a plurality of optical pathways, the mirrors forming a n×
m matrix;an illumination source for emitting radiation incident upon the mirrors, the radiation operable to harden a stereolithographic liquid; control circuitry responsive to input data operable to select one of the plurality of pathways along which each of the mirrors will reflect incident radiation to form an image, wherein said data selecting one of the pathways forms a cross-sectional image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming a model of cured resin comprising the steps of:
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applying a thin film of stereolithographic liquid to a surface; illuminating a plurality of deformable mirrors with radiation operable to cure the liquid resin; and deflecting certain of the mirrors such that a portion of the radiation is directed to the film of liquid, the directed radiation curing a portion of the resin, the portion of the resin forming at least part of a lamina of the model; and repeating said steps to form said model in successive layers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification