Stereolithography machine

• US 8,945,456 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dws S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Dws S.R.L.
• Inventors: Zenere, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tentoni, Leo B
• Application Number:
  US13/384,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 264/40.1, 264/40.6, 264/401, 264/402, 264/404, 425/143, 425/144, 425/174.4, 425/375
• US Class Current: 264/401
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/135 the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/295 Heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/393 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

The invention is a stereolithography machine (1) comprising the following: a support plate (2) provided with a hole (2a); a container (3) associated with the support plate (2) and comprising a transparent bottom (3a); a radiation source (4) arranged below the support plate (2) and suited to convey a radiation beam towards the transparent bottom (3a) through the hole (2a); a temperature control unit (5) suited to maintain the support plate (2) at a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. A stereolithography machine comprising:

a container suited to contain a fluid substance, said container having a transparent bottom;

a support plate provided with a hole, said support plate being designed to house said container so that said transparent bottom faces said hole;

a radiation source arranged below said support plate, said radiation source suited to convey a radiation beam towards said transparent bottom through said hole; and

a temperature control unit suited to maintain said support plate at a predetermined temperature,

wherein said support plate at said predetermined temperature maintains said container and said fluid substance at said predetermined temperature.

2. The stereolithography machine according to claim 1, wherein said temperature control unit comprises at least one heating element thermally coupled with said support plate.

3. The stereolithography machine according to claim 2, wherein said temperature control unit comprises a temperature sensor thermally coupled with said support plate.

4. The stereolithography machine according to claim 3, wherein said heating element and said temperature sensor are operatively connected to a control unit suited to keep a temperature of said support plate at a constant value.

5. The stereolithography machine according to claim 2, wherein said heating element is an electric resistor.

6. The stereolithography machine according to claim 2, wherein said temperature control unit comprises two of said heating elements, thermally coupled with said support plate on opposite sides of said support plate with respect to said hole.

7. The stereolithography machine according to claim 2, wherein said heating element is arranged in contact with said support plate.

8. The stereolithography machine according to claim 2, wherein said support plate comprises a recess for housing said heating element.

9. The stereolithography machine according to claim 8, wherein said recess is provided with a cover removably mounted on said support plate.

10. The stereolithography machine according to claim 1, wherein said radiation beam is a laser beam.

12. The stereolithography machine according to claim 1, wherein said temperature control unit conducts heat to said support plate to maintain said support plate at said predetermined temperature.

13. The stereolithography machine according to claim 1, wherein said support plate conducts heat to said container and said fluid substance to maintain said container and said fluid substance at said predetermined temperature.

11. A stereolithography method comprising the following operations:

preparing a fluid substance suited to solidify when exposed to a predetermined radiation beam;

preparing a container suited to contain said fluid substance, said container having a transparent bottom;

filling said container with said fluid substance;

housing said container in a support plate provided with a hole for the passage of said radiation beam so that the transparent bottom of said container faces said hole;

conveying said radiation beam towards said transparent bottom through said hole;

providing a temperature control unit;

said temperature control unit heating said support plate to a predetermined temperature; and

said support plate at said predetermined temperature heating said container and said fluid substance, to said predetermined temperature,

wherein said fluid substance is a mixture of different components that tend to separate at room temperature, and

wherein said predetermined temperature is suited to prevent said separation of said components.