System and method for printing of three-dimensional objects

• US 7,628,857 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LightCross, Inc. (NVIDIA Corporation), Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Objet Geometries
• Inventors: Kritchman, Eliahu M., Gothait, Hanan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tadesse; Yewebdar T
• Application Number:
  US11/980,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 118/500, 118313-316, 118/46, 118/305, 118/669, 118/670, 118686-688, 118/50, 118/326, 118/634, 347/19, 347/20, 347/43, 347/44, 347/54, 425/145, 425/375, 425/174.7, 264/308, 264/40.1, 264/401, 700/118, 700/119, 700/120, 700/98
• US Class Current: 118/305
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92209 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92704 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/005 Compensating volume or shape change during moulding, in general
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/02 for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/48 Compensating volume change, e.g. retraction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/52 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/124 using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/129 characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/135 the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/245 Platforms or substrates support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/40 Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/10 Pre-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 : Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 : for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/16 : Braille printing typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for Braille printing B41J3/32

Abstract

A system and a method for printing of three-dimensional objects are provided. The system may include at least two replaceable printing trays and the method may include printing using a printing head a first three dimensional object on a first replaceable printing tray in a printing area; automatically moving the first tray from the printing area; automatically placing a second replaceable printing tray in the printing area; and immediately resuming printing a second three dimensional object on the second tray.

Claims

1. A three dimensional printing system comprising:

a first replaceable printing tray to support a first three-dimensional object being formed;

a second replaceable printing tray to support a second three-dimensional object being formed;

a printing head to deposit material in layers onto the first replaceable printing tray when the first replaceable printing tray is positioned in a printing area to form the first three-dimensional object and to deposit material in layers onto the second replaceable printing tray when the second replaceable printing tray is positioned in the printing area to form the second three-dimensional object; and

a controller to control after completion of printing the first three-dimensional object, automatic replacement of the first replaceable tray supporting the first three-dimensional object with the second replaceable tray and to instruct the printing head to start printing of the second three-dimensional object on the second replaceable tray.

2. The three-dimensional printing system of claim 1, wherein said first replaceable printing tray bearing the first three-dimensional object is moved from the printing area to another area or chamber situated within the three-dimensional printing system.

3. The three-dimensional printing system of claim 2, wherein said area or chamber is an insulated chamber to insulate the first three-dimensional object when the second three-dimensional object is being printed.

4. The three-dimensional printing system of claim 3, wherein said insulated chamber includes a removable structure.

5. The three-dimensional printing system of claim 3, wherein said insulated chamber includes a temperature control unit.