Apparatus and method for calibrating and normalizing a stereolithographic apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the apparatus to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location;
directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface;
recording the positioner information used to direct the reaction means;
sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed;
using the sensed position, the known locations, the known spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for calibrating and normalizing a stereolithographic apparatus so that a reaction means directed by a positioning means supplied with positioning means information may be positioned accurately on a designated surface of a working medium. One or more sensors fixed in location with respect to the designated surface of the working medium are utilized to correlate positioning means information with specific locations on the designated surface of the working medium. Other locations intermediate the specific locations may then be determined by the technique of linear interpolation.
143 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the apparatus to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface; recording the positioner information used to direct the reaction means; sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed; using the sensed position, the known locations, the known spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a machine for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selected physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to form successive laminae forming the object, the improvement of an apparatus for calibrating and normalizing the machine prior to operation of the machine to make the three-dimensional object, comprising:
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means for defining a number of known locations near the working surface with desired spatial relationships between each location; means for directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface; means for storing the positioner information used to direct the reaction means; means for sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed; means for using the sensed position, the known locations, the desired spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; directing the reaction means to a plurality of desired locations near said working surface using desired positioner information; sensing the locations where the reaction means is directed; causing said plurality of known locations and said desired locations to be substantially coincident; receiving data representing a cross-section of the three-dimensional object to be formed wherein the data represents desired spatial relationships between a plurality of points to be solidified; using said known spatial relationships and said desired positioner information to map the data which represents desired spatial relationships between the plurality of points to be exposed to derive necessary positioner information to accurately position the reaction means onto the working surface.
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22. In a machine for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selected physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to form successive laminae forming the object, the improvement of an apparatus for calibrating and normalizing the machine prior to operation of the machine to make the three-dimensional object, comprising:
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means for defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; means for directing the reaction means to a plurality of desired locations near said working surface using desired positioner information; means for sensing the locations where the reaction means is directed; means for causing said plurality of known locations and said desired locations to be substantially coincident; means for receiving data representing a cross-section of the three-dimensional object to be formed wherein the data represents desired spatial relationships between a plurality of points to be solidified; means for using said known spatial relationships and said desired positioner information to map the data which represents desired spatial relationships between the plurality of points to be exposed to derive necessary positioner information to accurately position the reaction means onto the working surface.
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Specification