Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional objects from solidifiable paste
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supplying a solidifiable paste that solidifies when exposed to solidification energy, the apparatus comprising:
- a solidifiable paste container comprising an open top and a closed bottom, wherein the container has a height, a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the height, and an interior volume for holding the solidifiable paste;
a spreader having a length defining a first axis, wherein the length of the spreader is located within the cross-sectional area, at least a portion of the spreader extends into the interior volume, and at least one of the spreader and the solidifiable paste container is movable relative to the other of the spreader and the solidifiable paste container while the portion of the spreader extends into the interior volume;
wherein the spreader is a first spreader, the apparatus further comprises a second spreader, the second spreader has a length along the first axis, at least a portion of the second spreader extends into the interior volume, and at least one of the second spreader and the solidifiable paste container is movable relative to the other of the second spreader and the solidifiable paste container while the at least a portion of the second spreader extends into the interior volume; and
the apparatus further comprises a spreader assembly comprising the first spreader and the second spreader, wherein the spreader assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the first axis.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable paste is shown and described. The apparatus includes a pastes spreader, at least a portion of which extends into the solidifiable paste. The container holding the solidifiable paste and the spreader are movable relative to one another. In one system, the spreader vibrates as the container and the spreader move relative to one another. In another system, the spreader is part of a spreader assembly in which a first spreader and second spreader are angled with respect to one another, and the assembly is rotatable and lockable into multiple rotational positions. The apparatus and method allow three-dimensional objects to be progressively built upside down by ensuring that the previously solidified object section has a substantially homogeneous layer of solidifiable material available for forming a new layer of the solidified object prior to exposure to solidification energy.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supplying a solidifiable paste that solidifies when exposed to solidification energy, the apparatus comprising:
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a solidifiable paste container comprising an open top and a closed bottom, wherein the container has a height, a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the height, and an interior volume for holding the solidifiable paste; a spreader having a length defining a first axis, wherein the length of the spreader is located within the cross-sectional area, at least a portion of the spreader extends into the interior volume, and at least one of the spreader and the solidifiable paste container is movable relative to the other of the spreader and the solidifiable paste container while the portion of the spreader extends into the interior volume; wherein the spreader is a first spreader, the apparatus further comprises a second spreader, the second spreader has a length along the first axis, at least a portion of the second spreader extends into the interior volume, and at least one of the second spreader and the solidifiable paste container is movable relative to the other of the second spreader and the solidifiable paste container while the at least a portion of the second spreader extends into the interior volume; and
the apparatus further comprises a spreader assembly comprising the first spreader and the second spreader, wherein the spreader assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification