Rapid prototyping apparatus and method of rapid prototyping
First Claim
1. Rapid prototyping apparatus for the manufacturing of three dimensional objects by additive treatment of cross sections comprising a wholly or partially light-sensitive material, said apparatus comprising at least one light source for illumination of a cross section of the light-sensitive material by at least two spatial light modulators of individually controllable light modulators, wherein the at least one light source is optically coupled to a plurality of light guides arranged with respect to the spatial light modulator arrangement in such a manner that each light guide illuminates a sub-area of the cross section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a rapid prototyping apparatus for the manufacturing of three dimensional objects by additive treatment of cross sections comprising a wholly or partially light-sensitive material, said apparatus comprising at least one light source for illumination of a cross section of the light-sensitive material by at least one spatial light modulator of individually controllable light modulators, wherein at least one light source is optically coupled with a plurality of light guides arranged with respect to the spatial light modulator arrangement in such a manner that each light guide illuminates a sub-area of the cross section.
According to the invention, it is possible to obtain a significant simplification of an RP design system, just as the apparatuses designed are essentially capable of creating prototypes of any size, according to the invention.
80 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. Rapid prototyping apparatus for the manufacturing of three dimensional objects by additive treatment of cross sections comprising a wholly or partially light-sensitive material, said apparatus comprising at least one light source for illumination of a cross section of the light-sensitive material by at least two spatial light modulators of individually controllable light modulators, wherein the at least one light source is optically coupled to a plurality of light guides arranged with respect to the spatial light modulator arrangement in such a manner that each light guide illuminates a sub-area of the cross section.
- 15. Method of manufacturing three dimensional objects by means of a rapid prototyping apparatus where a wholly or partially light-sensitive material is treated by at least one light source illuminating a cross section of the material by at least two modulator arrangements of individually controllable light modulators, wherein at least one light source is optically coupled with a plurality of light guides arranged with respect to the spatial light modulator arrangement in such a manner that each light guide illuminates a sub-area of the cross section.
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21. Rapid prototyping apparatus for the manufacturing of three dimensional objects by additive treatment of cross sections comprising a wholly or partially light-sensitive material, said apparatus comprising at least one light source for illumination of a cross section of the light-sensitive material by at least one spatial light modulator of individually controllable light modulators, wherein the at least one light source is optically coupled to a plurality of light guides arranged with respect to the spatial light modulator arrangement in such a manner that each light guide illuminates a sub-area of the cross section, wherein the plurality of light guides is disposed between the light source and the spatial light modulators.
Specification