Method of post processing stereolithographically produced objects

• US 5,482,659 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauerhoefer, Marc R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tentoni, Leo B.
• Application Number:
  US08/363,105
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 264/22, 264/23, 264/156, 264/232, 264/233, 264/340, 264/500, 264/572
• US Class Current: 264/401
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/135 the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/0009 using liquids, e.g. solvents, swelling agents spectacle cases, e.g. for cleaning contact lenses A45C11/04; disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses A61L12/00, using liquid substances A61L2/20; cleaning involving the use of liquid in general B08B3/00; for hydrating contact lenses B29D11/00067
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing

Abstract

A method of evacuating uncured resin from internal passages of semi-hollow stereolithographically produced objects includes, subjecting the object to air flow for between about 0.5 hours and about 2 hours, at a temperature greater than about 75° F.; externally cleaning the object with alcohol; submerging the object in a bath of alcohol, wherein the bath is internally agitated; removing the object from the bath and repeating the above steps to displace any residual resin, wherein total object exposure time to alcohol does not exceed three hours.

Claims

1. A method of post processing stereolithographically produced semi-hollow objects comprising the steps of:

(a) creating at least two fitting holes in the object to facilitate internal resin evacuation;

(b) attaching at least one air hose to a fitting hole wherein remaining fitting holes are capped, except at least one fitting hole remains open for resin drainage;

(c) subjecting the object to air flow for between about 0.5 hours and about 2 hours, at a temperature greater than about 75°

F.;

(d) removing any air hoses and then externally cleaning the object with alcohol;

(e) removing any caps and submerging the object in a bath of alcohol, wherein the bath is internally agitated; and

(f) removing the object from the bath and repeating steps (b) through (e) to displace residual resin, wherein total object exposure time to alcohol does not exceed 3 hours.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alcohol is isopropyl alcohol.

3. A method of evacuating uncured resin from internal passages of a stereolithographically produced semi-hollow object comprising the steps of:

(a) creating at least two fitting holes in the object to facilitate internal resin evacuation;

(b) subjecting the object to air flow such that resin drains from the internal passages, wherein at least one air hose is attached to a fitting hole and remaining fitting holes are capped, except at least on fitting hole remains open for resin drainage;

(c) removing any air hoses and then externally cleaning the object with alcohol;

(d) removing any caps and submerging the object in a bath of alcohol, and

(e) removing the object from the bath and repeating steps (b) through (d) to displace residual resin, wherein total object exposure time to alcohol does not exceed 3 hours.