Three dimensional modeling
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
- means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer materials, layer upon layer, in a pattern matter configuration; and
means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer.
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Abstract
Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model including apparatus for depositing, layer upon layer, a photopolymer material in a selectable configuration and apparatus for curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer.
215 Citations
30 Claims
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1. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer materials, layer upon layer, in a pattern matter configuration; and means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of:
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selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer, in a pattern configuration; and radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material layer upon layer, in a pattern configuration; and means for radiation curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said means for curing includes means for initially curing said layer at interior locations thereof and subsequently curing said layer at peripheral locations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of:
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selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; and radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said step of radiation curing includes the steps of initially curing said layer at interior locations thereof and subsequently curing said layer at exterior locations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer; and means for curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof by exposing each layer of the photopolymer material through a mask defining a layered section of an object to be modeled, superimposed upon a grid pattern, and wherein the means for curing includes; computer means for generating a layer by layer raster pattern parallel to a first axis of each layer, and hardware plotter driver means receiving and decoding said raster pattern to define first grid lines along said first axis and adding thereto second grid lines along a second axis, thereby to define said grid pattern.
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12. Apparatus for producing a grid pattern comprising;
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computer means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer by layer in a raster pattern parallel to a first axis; and hardware plotter driver means receiving and decoding said raster pattern to define first grid lines along said first axis and adding thereto second grid lines along a second axis, thereby to define said grid pattern.
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13. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer; and curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof by exposing each layer of the photopolymer material through a mask defining a layered section of an object to be modeled superimposed upon a grid comprising first grid lines, and wherein the step of curing includes the steps of; computer generating a layer by layer raster pattern parallel to a first axis of each layer, and receiving the raster pattern to define the first grid lines along the first axis and adding thereto second grid lines along a second axis, thereby to define a grid pattern. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer; means for exposing the photopolymer material to define selectable configuration; and means for curing the exposed portion of each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said means for exposing comprises means for directing illumination through a mask including a low resolution, programmable erasable portion associated with a high resolution non-erasable film portion.
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17. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer; exposing the photopolymer material to define a pattern configuration; and
curing the exposed portion of each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said step of exposing comprises the step of directing illumination through a mask including a low resolution, programmable erasable portion associated with a high resolution non-erasable film portion.
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18. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
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means for depositing, layer upon layer, a photopolymer material; means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, wherein said means for depositing includes means for selectably forming a diagnostic layer; mean for analyzing the diagnostic layer; and means for removing the diagnostic layer before subsequent deposition of other layers.
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19. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of;
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depositing, layer upon layer, a photopolymer material; curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said step of depositing includes the step of selectably forming a diagnostic layer; analyzing the diagnostic layer; and removing the diagnostic layer before subsequent deposition of other layers.
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20. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; means for curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer; and optical inspection means for visually inspecting each layer as said layer is formed. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:
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selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer; and optically inspecting each layer as said layer is formed. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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means for selective dispensing a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; and means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said means for radiation curing includes; means for initially partially curing the photopolymer layer to provide a partially cured photopolymer layer, means for removing uncured material from the partially cured photopolymer layer, and means for thereafter finally curing the photopolymer layer.
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25. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of;
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selective dispensing a photopolymer material, layer upon layer, in a pattern configuration; and radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said step of radiation curing includes the steps of; initially partially curing the photopolymer layer to provide a partially cured photopolymer layer, removing uncured material from the partially cured photopolymer layer, and thereafter finally curing the photopolymer layer.
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26. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer; and means for providing a visually sensible indication on each layer. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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27. A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of:
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selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer; and providing a visually sensible indication on each layer.
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28. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer; means for applying a support material at certain locations of each layer which are not filled by photopolymer prior to deposition onto said layer of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, wherein said support material is a solidifiable material; and cooling plate means arranged for planar engagement with the layer after application of said support material, for cooling and thus solidifying the solidifiable material.
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30. Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;
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means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration; means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer; and means for applying a support material at certain locations of each layer which are not filled by photopolymer prior to deposition onto said layer of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, wherein said support material is a sintered powder.
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Specification