Method for rapid prototyping of solid models
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for making a three-dimensional physical object of a predetermined shape under control of a control system, said method employing a thermally solidifiable material having a solidification temperature and a creep relaxation temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) dispensing said thermally solidifiable material in a fluid state from an extruder into a build region having at least a local region temperature that exceeds the solidification temperature of the thermally solidifiable material;
b) simultaneously with the dispensing of the said thermally solidifiable material, and in response to said control system, generating relative movement between the extruder and a support in the build region, so that the said thermally solidifiable material accumulates on said support to form a three-dimensional physical object; and
c) solidifying said thermally solidifiable material by cooling said local region temperature and said material below the solidification temperature of the material.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
Data corresponding to a desired shape of a prototype is transmitted to a rapid prototyping system. The system calculates a sequence for extruding flowable material that thermally solidifies so as to create the desired geometric shape. A heated flowable modeling material is then sequentially extruded at its deposition temperature into a build environment that maintains the volume in the vicinity of the newly deposited material in a deposition temperature window between the material'"'"'s solidification temperature and its creep temperature. Subsequently the newly extruded material is gradually cooled below its solidification temperature, while maintaining temperature gradients in the geometric shape below a maximum value set by the desired part'"'"'s geometric accuracy.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for making a three-dimensional physical object of a predetermined shape under control of a control system, said method employing a thermally solidifiable material having a solidification temperature and a creep relaxation temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) dispensing said thermally solidifiable material in a fluid state from an extruder into a build region having at least a local region temperature that exceeds the solidification temperature of the thermally solidifiable material; b) simultaneously with the dispensing of the said thermally solidifiable material, and in response to said control system, generating relative movement between the extruder and a support in the build region, so that the said thermally solidifiable material accumulates on said support to form a three-dimensional physical object; and c) solidifying said thermally solidifiable material by cooling said local region temperature and said material below the solidification temperature of the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for making a three-dimensional physical object of a predetermined shape comprising the steps of:
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a) computing a sequence of commands required to produce said predetermined shape of the three-dimensional physical object; b) dispensing a thermally solidifiable material in a fluid state from an extruder into a build environment as prescribed by the sequence of commands; c) maintaining during step b) the build environment, at least in a vicinity of the extruder, within a predetermined temperature range, said temperature range being above a solidification temperature of the thermally solidifiable material; d) simultaneously with the dispensing step b) and in response to the sequence of commands, mechanically generating relative movement between the extruder and the build environment, so that the said material accumulates to form the three-dimensional physical object; e) concurrently with step d), adjusting temperatures within the build environment differentially so that the solidifiable material, upon which additional solidifiable material has accumulated, is cooled below a solidification temperature thereof; and f) further solidifying the said object by cooling said object below said solidification temperature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification