Method and apparatus for production of high resolution three-dimensional objects by stereolithography
First Claim
1. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae including a beam of stimulation for converting layers of a solidifiable medium into laminae of the object, comprising:
- a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data adjusted to compensate for a width of solidification induced in the medium by the beam; and
a scanning system for directing the beam onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae.
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Abstract
An improved stereolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being specially processed to reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction even for rather difficult object shapes, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae including a beam of stimulation for converting layers of a solidifiable medium into laminae of the object, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data adjusted to compensate for a width of solidification induced in the medium by the beam; and a scanning system for directing the beam onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium upon exposure to stimulation, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object, including the generation of skins, to provide modified coordinated data; and an exposure system for directing the stimulation onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium upon exposure to stimulation, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object, including the generation of cross-hatch, to provide modified coordinate data; and an exposure system for directing the stimulation onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data including the use of the cross-hatch in exposing the medium, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae.
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10. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium upon exposure to stimulation, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object, the manipulating including ordering vector blocks to provide modified coordinate data; and an exposure system for directing the stimulation onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data including exposing the medium using vectors grouped and ordered according to the ordering of the vector blocks, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae.
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11. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium upon exposure to stimulation, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object, to generate, for at least a plurality of laminae, multiple boundaries descriptive of each of the plurality of laminae to provide modified coordinate data; and an exposure system for directing the stimulation onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae.
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12. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium upon exposure to a stimulation, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data adjusted to compensate for a depth of transformation induced in the medium by the stimulation; an exposure system for selectively directing the stimulation onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae including a beam of stimulation for converting layers of a solidifiable medium into laminae of the object, comprising:
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manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data adjusted to compensate for a width of solidification induced in the medium by the beam; and a scanning system for directing the beam onto layers of the medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium upon exposure to a stimulation, comprising:
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manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data adjusted to compensate for a depth of transformation induced in the medium by the stimulation; selectively directing the stimulation onto layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed upon exposure of a medium to stimulation, comprising:
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a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing laminae of the object wherein at least a portion of any up-facing or down-facing regions of the object are represented by data which is independent of any other regions of the object; an exposure system for selectively exposing layers of the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae formed from a medium, comprising:
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manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinated data representing laminae of the object wherein at least a portion of any up-facing or down-facing regions of the object are represented by data which is independent of any other regions of the object; forming laminae from the medium, in accordance with the modified coordinate data, to form the three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification