Methods and systems for integrating fluid dispensing technology with stereolithography
First Claim
1. A method of integrated rapid prototyping comprising:
- fabricating a first part layer using a layered manufacturing apparatus;
depositing fluid on the first part layer using a fluid dispensing apparatus without removing the first part layer from the layered manufacturing apparatus;
fabricating a second part layer on top of the first part layer; and
depositing fluid on the second part layer such that the fluid on the second part layer is coupled to the fluid on the first part layer by an electrically conductive material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated system and method of integrating fluid dispensing technologies (e.g., direct-write (DW)) with rapid prototyping (RP) technologies (e.g., stereolithography (SL)) without part registration comprising: an SL apparatus and a fluid dispensing apparatus further comprising a translation mechanism adapted to translate the fluid dispensing apparatus along the Z-, Y- and Z-axes. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises: a pressurized fluid container; a valve mechanism adapted to control the flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid container; and a dispensing nozzle adapted to deposit the fluid in a desired location. To aid in calibration, the integrated system includes a laser sensor and a mechanical switch. The method further comprises building a second part layer on top of the fluid deposits and optionally accommodating multi-layered circuitry by incorporating a connector trace. Thus, the present invention is capable of efficiently building single and multi-material SL fabricated parts embedded with complex three-dimensional circuitry using DW.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of integrated rapid prototyping comprising:
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fabricating a first part layer using a layered manufacturing apparatus; depositing fluid on the first part layer using a fluid dispensing apparatus without removing the first part layer from the layered manufacturing apparatus; fabricating a second part layer on top of the first part layer; and depositing fluid on the second part layer such that the fluid on the second part layer is coupled to the fluid on the first part layer by an electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of integrated rapid prototyping comprising:
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fabricating a first part layer using a layered manufacturing apparatus; depositing fluid on the first part layer using a fluid dispensing apparatus without removing the first part layer from the layered manufacturing apparatus; fabricating a second part layer on top of the first part layer; depositing fluid on the second part layer; and depositing fluid to connect the fluid disposed on the first part layer and the fluid disposed on the second part layer.
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Specification