Applicator device and method for dispensing a liquid medium in a laser modeling machine
First Claim
1. A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed energy, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container for holding the medium;
providing a support within the container for supporting the object being formed;
forming a layer of medium above the support;
solidifying a preselected cross-section of the layer by exposure to the prescribed energy according to the design for the object;
relatively raising the medium surrounding the solidified cross-section thereby forming a meniscus around the periphery of the cross-section;
forming a successive layer of medium above the solidified cross-section by filling the meniscus with medium from a coating means thereby breaking the meniscus such that the medium surrounding and above the solidified cross-section flow together;
solidifying a preselected cross-section of the successive layer by exposure to the source of the prescribed energy according to the design of the object; and
alternately repeating the successive layer-forming step and solidifying step to form the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A solid three-dimensional article is formed from a liquid medium by initially coating a layer of the liquid medium on a fixedly mounted apertured support plate. An initial cross-section or profile of the article then is formed by solidifying the liquid medium, or at least a portion thereof, on the support plate. In another embodiment, each layer of the liquid medium is formed by dispensing the entire layer from above the fixed support plate. In a further embodiment, a device is disclosed for dispensing a liquid medium in layers of uniform thickness on the medium surface of a laser modeling machine, for solidification when subjected to prescribed energy. The dispenser comprises an elongated applicator or coating bar of rectangular, essentially solid construction, with a liquid medium reservoir and dispensing passageways located adjacent a dispensing side of the bar. A feed tube and traversing mechanism support rods are secured to an opposite side of the bar. The dispensing passageways may be apertures arranged in multiple rows, with the apertures in at least one row offset with respect to the apertures in the other rows, for more uniform dispensing. In the alternative, the passageways may be inclined slots having portions overlapping in a direction extending longitudinally of the bar.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed energy, comprising the steps of:
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providing a container for holding the medium; providing a support within the container for supporting the object being formed; forming a layer of medium above the support; solidifying a preselected cross-section of the layer by exposure to the prescribed energy according to the design for the object; relatively raising the medium surrounding the solidified cross-section thereby forming a meniscus around the periphery of the cross-section; forming a successive layer of medium above the solidified cross-section by filling the meniscus with medium from a coating means thereby breaking the meniscus such that the medium surrounding and above the solidified cross-section flow together; solidifying a preselected cross-section of the successive layer by exposure to the source of the prescribed energy according to the design of the object; and alternately repeating the successive layer-forming step and solidifying step to form the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed energy, comprising the steps of:
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providing a container for holding the medium; providing a support within the container for supporting the object being formed; forming a layer of medium above the support; solidifying a preselected cross-section of the layer according to a design for the object; alternately repeating the layer-forming step and solidifying step to form the object; and reducing the level of unsolidified medium within the container from around the formed object while on the support. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed energy, comprising the steps of:
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providing a container for holding the medium; providing a support within the container for supporting the object being formed; forming a layer of medium above the support including dispensing at least a portion of the layer from above the support, by a horizontally-movable dispenser; solidifying a preselected cross-section of the layer by selective exposure to a source of the prescribed energy according to a design for the object; and alternately repeating the layer-forming step and solidifying step to form the object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for forming a three-dimensional object of medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed energy, comprising the steps of:
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providing a container for holding the medium; providing a support within the container for supporting the object being formed; forming a layer of medium above the support including dispensing at least a portion of the layer from above the support from an apertured member wherein the apertures are located closely adjacent to a previous medium layer so that the medium is uniformly dispensed from the apertures as a result of capillary action and surface tension of the medium; solidifying a preselected cross-section of the layer according to a design for the object; and alternately repeating the layer-forming step and solidifying step to form the object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification