3D printing and forming of structures

• US 6,164,850 A
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patterning Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Stuart Speakman
• Inventors: Speakman, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): EICKHOLT, EUGENE H
• Application Number:
  US09/194,850
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 400/109.1, 400/120.09, 400/106, 101/483, 101/490, 101/129, 156/275.5, 156/356, 347/1, 347/115, 347/107, 430/18, 522/35
• US Class Current: 400/120.09
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2125 by means of nozzle diameter selection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/32 for printing in Braille or with keyboards specially adapted for use by blind or disabled persons
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/16 Braille printing typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for Braille printing B41J3/32
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0081 using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/009 using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat

Abstract

A method of forming a three-dimensional feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material. The method comprises depositing a plurality of droplets on the surface to form a feature comprising multiple discrete portions, adjoining portions being formed from different deposition material. Examples of such a feature include a Braille character and a multi-layer optical device.

Claims

1. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surfacc to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, at least two adjacent portions being formed from different deposition materials.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said tactile feature comprises a tactile character.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said tactile character comprises a Braille character.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said tactile feature comprises a feature for a tactile map.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said tactile feature comprises at least one portion establishing a bulk profile of said tactile feature and at least one portion establishing texture of said tactile feature.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of subjecting the droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment before deposition.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of subjecting the droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment during deposition.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the droplets of deposition material are subjected to pulses of electromagnetic radiation coincident thereon.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said droplets of deposition material are deposited from a nozzle in fluid communication with a deposition chamber of a deposition printhead, and the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are output from a source of electromagnetic radiation integral with the deposition printhead.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are focused on the droplets of deposition material.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of subjecting the droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment after deposition.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the droplets of deposition material are subjected to pulses of electromagnetic radiation coincident thereon.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said droplets of deposition material are deposited from a nozzle in fluid communication with a deposition chamber of a deposition printhead, and the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are output from a source of electromagnetic radiation integral with the deposition printhead.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are focused on the droplets of deposition material.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking immediately after deposition by chemical means using a further droplet coincident thereon.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of droplets comprise at least one droplet of one material and at least one droplet of another material.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the different deposition materials are deposited from respective nozzles of a deposition printhead, each nozzle being in fluid communication with respective deposition chambers of said printhead.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the nozzles are directed towards a single droplet deposition site.

19. A method according to claim 1, further comprising utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking immediately after deposition by chemical means using radiation treatment.

20. A method according to claim 1, further comprising utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking in-flight chemical means using radiation treatment.

21. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, wherein said tactile feature comprises at least one portion establishing a bulk profile of said tactile feature and at least one portion formed on the bulk profile establishing texture of said tactile feature.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said tactile feature comprises a tactile character.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said tactile character comprises a Braille character.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein said tactile feature comprises a feature for a tactile map.

25. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of subjecting the droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment before deposition.

26. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step subjecting the droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment during deposition.

27. A method according to claim 21, wherein the droplets of deposition material are subjected t o pulses of electromagnetic radiation coincident thereon.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said droplets of deposition material are deposited from a nozzle in fluid communication with a deposition chamber of a deposition printhead, and the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are output from a source of electromagnetic radiation integral with the deposition printhead.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are focused on the droplets of deposition material.

30. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of subjecting the droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment after deposition.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the droplets of deposition material are subjected to pulses of electromagnetic radiation coincident thereon.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said droplets of deposition material are deposited fiom a nozzle in fluid communication with a deposition chamber of a deposition printhead, and the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are output from a source of electromagnetic radiation integral with the deposition printhead.

33. A method according to claim 29, wherein the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are focused on the droplets of deposition material.

34. A method according to claim 21, further comprising utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking immediately after deposition by chemical means using a droplet coincident thereon.

35. A method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of droplets comprise at least one droplet of one material and at least one droplet of another material.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the different deposition materials are deposited from respective nozzles of a deposition printhead, each nozzle being in fluid communication with respective deposition chambers of said printhead.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the nozzles are directed towards a single droplet deposition site.

38. A method according to claim 21, further comprising utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking immediately after deposition by chemical means using radiation treatment.

39. A method according to claim 21, further comprising utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking in-flight by chemical means using radiation treatment.

40. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, and subjecting said droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment before deposition.

41. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, and subjecting said droplets of deposition material to radiation treatment during deposition.

42. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, and subjecting the droplets of deposition material to pulses of electromagnetic radiation coincident thereon.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said droplets of deposition material are deposited from a nozzle in fluid communication with a deposition chamber of a deposition printhead, and the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are output from a source of electromagnetic radiation integral with the deposition printhead.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are focused on the droplets of deposition material.

45. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, and subjecting the droplets of deposition material to pulses of electromagnetic radiation coincident thereon after deposition.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said droplets of deposition material are deposited from a nozzle in fluid communication with a deposition chamber of a deposition printhead, and the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are output from a source of electromagnetic radiation integral with the deposition printhead.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the pulses of electromagnetic radiation are focused on the droplets of deposition material.

48. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, and utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking immediately after deposition by chemical means using a further droplet coincident thereon.

49. A method of forming a tactile feature on a surface using the technique of drop ejection to deposit droplets of deposition material, said method comprising depositing a plurality of droplets on said surface to form a tactile feature comprising multiple discrete portions, and utilising a droplet of cross-linkable polymeric material and initiating the cross-linking immediately after deposition by chemical means using radiation treatment.