Three-dimensional printing apparatus

• US 8,926,304 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited), Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited), XYZprinting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited), Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited), XYZprinting, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Peng-Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBITAILLE, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US14/164,276
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 425/174.4
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• 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: B29K 2105/0058 Liquid or visquous
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

Abstract

A three-dimensional printing apparatus including a tank filled with a liquid-state forming material, a platform disposed at the tank, a rotating shaft, a rotating arm, and at least one light source is provided. The rotating shaft is disposed under the tank or above the tank. The rotating arm connects to the rotating shaft such that the rotating arm is driven by the rotating shaft to rotate. The light source disposed on the rotating arm rotates along with the rotating arm and generates light projecting toward the forming material along with the part of the platform moving in the forming material, such that the forming material is solidified in layers and forms a three-dimensional object on the platform.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising:

a tank, filled with a liquid-state forming material;

a movable platform, movably disposed at the tank, wherein a portion of the movable platform is immersed in the liquid-state forming material;

a rotating shaft, disposed under the tank;

a rotating arm, connected with the rotating shaft, wherein the rotating arm is driven by the rotating shaft to rotate; and

at least one light source, disposed on the rotating arm to rotate with the rotating arm,

wherein the light source provides light to irradiate the liquid-state forming material to solidify a portion of the liquid-state forming material in layers along with the portion of the movable platform moving in the liquid-state forming material to form a three-dimensional object on the movable platform.

2. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a moving trace of the light source is a curve.

3. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a moving trace of the light source is at least a portion of a circle.

4. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating arm extends along a radial direction relative to the rotating shaft.

5. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is movably disposed on the rotating arm.

6. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of light sources, disposed on the rotating arm along a radial direction, wherein at least a portion of the light sources selectively provides light to irradiate the liquid-state forming material in the tank.

7. A three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising:

a tank, filled with a liquid-state forming material;

a movable platform, movably disposed at the tank, wherein a portion of the movable platform is immersed in the liquid-state forming material;

a rotating shaft, disposed above the tank;

a rotating arm, connected with the rotating shaft, wherein the rotating arm is driven by the rotating shaft to rotate; and

at least one light source, disposed on the rotating arm to rotate with the rotating arm wherein the light source provides light to irradiate the liquid-state forming material to solidify a portion of the liquid-state forming material in layers along with the portion of the movable platform moving in the liquid-state forming material to form a three-dimensional object on the movable platform.

8. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a moving trace of the light source is a curve.

9. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a moving trace of the light source is at least a portion of a circle.

10. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rotating arm extends along a radial direction relative to the rotating shaft.

11. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light source is movably disposed on the rotating arm.

12. The three-dimensional printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of light sources, disposed on the rotating arm along a radial direction, wherein at least a portion of the light sources selectively provides light to irradiate the liquid-state forming material in the tank.