Rapid prototyping and manufacturing system and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from a liquid resin by application of a laser to the resin layer-by-layer, said apparatus comprising a recoater operatively connected to a controller and controlled in response to predetermined data for adjustment about a central axis of rotation extending in the horizontal direction of travel of the recoater.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stereolithography apparatus having a resin vat with resupply containers in one-way flow communication and a leveling container in two-way flow communication, an automatic offload cart to remove and replace build support platforms, an elevator assembly for supporting and releasably retaining a build platform removably attached to the stereolithography apparatus frame such that elevator forks supporting the build platform can be released into the vat and removed from the stereolithography apparatus with the vat, and a recoater assembly and recoater blade for mapping the resin surface in the vat and applying a fresh coating of resin to a cross-section being built in the vat.
83 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from a liquid resin by application of a laser to the resin layer-by-layer, said apparatus comprising a recoater operatively connected to a controller and controlled in response to predetermined data for adjustment about a central axis of rotation extending in the horizontal direction of travel of the recoater.
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6. Apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from at least one building medium in response to energy applied to the medium to build the object layer-by-layer, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing having at least one interior frame defining a chamber within said housing for producing three-dimensional objects from the building medium; b) a container for the building medium adapted to be received within said chamber and releasably fixed in position with respect to said frame; c) a source of energy within said chamber for supplying energy to selected portions of a surface layer thickness of the building medium in said container to solidify the layer portions; d) a build platform for supporting solidified layer portions of building medium, said build platform adapted to fit within said container beneath the surface of the building medium; e) an elevator translatably fixed to said frame for vertically upward and downward movement and defining a horizontal extension extending horizontally into said chamber to releasably secure said platform on said horizontal extension, thereby to raise and lower said building platform; f) a recoater translatably secured to said frame for movement vertically and horizontally over the surface of the building medium; and g) a controller operatively connected to said energy source, said elevator, and said recoater for controlling supplying energy to the building medium, for vertical translation of said build platform, and for recoating the surface of the building medium, said recoater controlled in response to predetermined data for adjustment about a central axis of rotation extending in the horizontal direction of travel of the recoater over the surface of the building medium. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification