Method and apparatus for cleaning stereolithographically produced objects
First Claim
1. A method for producing and cleaning a three-dimensional object which is stereolithographically produced substantially layer by layer from a building material solidifiable upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising:
- forming successive layers of said building material;
forming successive cross-sectional layers of structure of said object by selectively exposing said successive layers of building material to said synergistic stimulation;
adhering said successive cross-sectional layers to form said object;
removing bulk excess building material from around said object;
applying a stripping material to a surface of said formed object to substantially remove excess building material wherein said stripping material is capable of dissolving at least one percent (1%) building material by weight; and
rinsing the surface with a rinsing substance which is different than the stripping material to substantially remove any residual building material and stripping material from the surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved stereolithographic apparatus and method is described. In one embodiment, the improvement includes immersing at least a portion of a part in a volume of a liquid solvent in a vapor degreaser while subjecting the portion to ultrasonic agitation to substantially remove excess resin. Several examples of solvents are provided, including ethanol, and Freon TMS. In a second embodiment, the improvement includes building the part on a layer of liquid resin supported by a volume of a dense, immiscible, and UV transparent intermediate liquid, and integratably immersing at least a portion of the built part in the intermediate liquid, and then either subjecting the immersed portion to ultrasonic agitation to substantially remove excess resin, or subjecting the immersed portion to UV light. Several examples of intermediate liquids are provided, including perfluorinated fluids, such as Fluorinert FC-40, and water-based salt solutions, such as solutions of magnesium sulfate or sodium chloride in water.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for producing and cleaning a three-dimensional object which is stereolithographically produced substantially layer by layer from a building material solidifiable upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising:
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forming successive layers of said building material; forming successive cross-sectional layers of structure of said object by selectively exposing said successive layers of building material to said synergistic stimulation; adhering said successive cross-sectional layers to form said object; removing bulk excess building material from around said object; applying a stripping material to a surface of said formed object to substantially remove excess building material wherein said stripping material is capable of dissolving at least one percent (1%) building material by weight; and rinsing the surface with a rinsing substance which is different than the stripping material to substantially remove any residual building material and stripping material from the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38)
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8. A method for producing and cleaning a three-dimensional object which is stereolithographically produced substantially layer by layer from a building material solidifiable upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising:
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forming successive layers of said building material; forming successive cross-sectional layers of structure of said object by selectively exposing said successive layers of building material to said synergistic stimulation; adhering said successive cross-sectional layers to form said object; removing bulk excess building material from around said object; applying a stripping material comprising primarily a glycol ether to a surface of the formed object to substantially remove excess building material from the surface of said object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An improved apparatus for producing and cleaning a three-dimensional object which is stereolithographically produced substantially layer by layer from a building material solidifiable upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising means for forming successive layers of said building material, means for forming successive cross-sectional layers of structure of said object by selectively exposing said successive layers of building material to said synergistic stimulation, and means for adhering said successive cross-sectional layers to form said object, the improvement comprising:
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means for removing excess building material from said object using a stripping material capable of dissolving at least one percent (1%) building material by weight, having a flashpoint greater than or equal to 97 degrees F., and which is soluble in a rinsing substance which is different than the stripping material; and means for rinsing said stripping material from said object with said rinsing substance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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31. An apparatus for producing and cleaning a three-dimensional object which is stereolithographically produced substantially layer by layer from a building material solidifiable upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising:
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means for forming successive layers of said building material; means for forming successive cross-sectional layers of structure of said object by selectively exposing said successive layers of building material to said synergistic stimulation; means for adhering said successive cross-sectional layers of structure to form said object; means for removing bulk excess building material from around said object; means for applying a stripping material to a surface of said formed object to substantially remove excess building material wherein said stripping material is capable of dissolving at least one percent (1%) building material by weight; and means for rinsing the surface with a rinsing substance, the rinsing substance being different than the stripping material. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification