Transactional method for building three-dimensional objects

• US 8,014,889 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Inventors: Brosch, Andrea L., Priedeman, William R. Jr., Crump, S. Scott, Batchelder, J. Samuel, Zinniel, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman; Sean P
• Application Number:
  US12/083,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 700/96, 700/97, 700/98, 700117-120, 700/182, 700/212, 705/1.1, 705/34, 705/300, 705/301, 705/400, 264/82, 264/341, 264674-677
• US Class Current: 700/119
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/12 by photopolymerisation, e.g. stereolithography [SLA] or digital light processing [DLP]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/14 by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/18 by mixing binder with metal in filament form, e.g. fused filament fabrication [FFF]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/40 Structures for supporting workpieces or articles during manufacture and removed afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/60 Treatment of workpieces or articles after build-up
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/00 Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/24 dies B21C3/18, B21C25/10, B21D37/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/12 Laminated parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/40 Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49017 DTM desktop manufacturing, prototyping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 : Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 : Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 : Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention is a method (10) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The method (10) includes receiving (14) digital information of the three-dimensional object over a communication line and building (30) the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the received digital information, where at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and where the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface. The method also includes vapor smoothing (32) at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a smoothed three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

receiving digital information of the three-dimensional object from a customer over a communication line, wherein the digital information comprises;

a digital representation of the three-dimensional object; and

surface smoothness information selected by the customer for vapor smoothing the three-dimensional object, the surface smoothness information comprising information selected by the customer that relates to an amount of vapor smoothing to be performed on the three-dimensional object;

building the three-dimensional object with a thermoplastic build material based at least in part on the received digital information, wherein at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and wherein the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface; and

vapor smoothing at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the surface smoothness information relating to the amount of vapor smoothing to be performed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a price quote over the communication line, wherein the price quote is based at least in part on the digital information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the price quote is automatically generated when the digital information is received.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the price quote over the communication line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing the three-dimensional object to the customer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing the three-dimensional object to the customer comprises shipping the three-dimensional object to the customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information further comprises information relating to the thermoplastic build material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the rapid manufacturing is selected from a group consisting of fused deposition modeling, ink jetting, selective laser sintering, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vapor smoothing incorporates a vapor selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, n-Propyl bromide, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, water, alcohols, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface smoothness information further comprises information selected by the customer related to masking of one or more portions of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object, and wherein vapor smoothing at least the portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object is also based at least in part on the surface smoothness information relating to the masking of the one or more portions of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object.

11. A method of conducting business with a customer for manufacturing a smoothed three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

receiving digital information of the three-dimensional object from the customer over a communication line, wherein the digital information comprises;

a digital representation of the three-dimensional object; and

surface smoothness information selected by the customer for vapor smoothing the three-dimensional object, the surface smoothness information comprising information selected by the customer that relates to an amount of vapor smoothing to be performed on the three-dimensional object;

providing a price quote to the customer over the communication line, wherein the price quote is based at least in part on the received digital information;

building the three-dimensional object with a thermoplastic build material based at least in part on the received digital information, wherein at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and wherein the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface;

vapor smoothing at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the surface smoothness information relating to the amount of vapor smoothing to be performed; and

providing the smoothed three-dimensional object to the customer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the price quote is automatically provided to the customer when the digital information is received.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the smoothed three-dimensional object to the customer comprises shipping the smoothed three-dimensional object to the customer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital information further comprises information relating to the thermoplastic build material.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the rapid manufacturing is selected from a group consisting of fused deposition modeling, ink jetting, selective laser sintering, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the vapor smoothing incorporates a vapor selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, n-Propyl bromide, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, water, alcohols, and combinations thereof.

17. A method of manufacturing a smoothed three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

providing a customer interface to a customer computer over a communication line;

receiving digital information from the customer computer over the communication line, wherein the digital information comprises;

a digital representation of the three-dimensional object; and

surface smoothness information for vapor smoothing the three-dimensional object, the surface smoothness information being selected by the customer with the customer interface, wherein the surface smoothness information comprises information selected by the customer that relates to an amount of vapor smoothing to be performed on the three-dimensional object;

building the three-dimensional object with a thermoplastic build material based at least in part on the digital representation, wherein at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and wherein the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface; and

vapor smoothing the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the surface smoothness information relating to the amount of vapor smoothing to be performed.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a price quote over the communication line, wherein the price quote is based at least in part on the digital information.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the price quote over the communication line.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises providing the smoothed, three-dimensional object to the customer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the providing the smoothed, three-dimensional object to the customer comprises shipping the smoothed, three-dimensional object to the customer.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the rapid manufacturing is selected from a group consisting of fused deposition modeling, ink jetting, selective laser sintering, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the vapor smoothing incorporates a vapor selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, n-Propyl bromide, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, water, alcohols, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein vapor smoothing at least the portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object comprises vapor smoothing all of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object.