Solid imaging apparatus having a semi-permeable film

• US 5,391,072 A
• Filed: 02/03/1992
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Jerome T., Lawton, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US07/829,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 425/174.4, 425/174, 264/22, 264/308, 118/620, 427/53.1, 427/55, 427/54.1, 430/270
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/129 characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing

Abstract

An apparatus for fabricating integral three-dimensional objects from successive layers of photoformable compositions by exposing the layers of the composition through a semi-permeable film that allows creation of release coatings on the side of the film facing the composition.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a) a substantially transparent, composition-inert, composition-impermeable, semi-permeable film, having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being positioned to partially contact an imaging atmosphere capable of permeating said film, and said second surface being positioned to partially contact a photoformable composition;

b) means for creating imagewise radiation through said film in order to form a photoformed layer and a deformable-composition-release-coating at said film second surface; and

c) means for separating said film from said photoformed layer.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said film is of substantially different molecular polarity than that of said composition.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said film is a fluoroelastomer film.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said imaging atmosphere comprises air.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said imaging atmosphere comprises oxygen in a greater concentration than normally found in air.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

means for forming additional layers of photoformable composition on previous photoformed layers.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a) a tenter frame for holding said film to a shape;

b) frame assembly translation means for translating said tenter frame and film slidably;

c) a platforms located to adhere to said photoformed layers; and

d) platform translation means for moving said platform.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said film is positioned to be permeated by a deformable-coating-mixture and dissolved inhibitors.