Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional objects using linear solidification and a vacuum blade
First Claim
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1. A method of making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material, comprising:
- first traversing a linear solidification device and a blade along a first travel direction along a travel axis while the linear solidification device scans solidification energy onto an exposed surface of the solidifiable material along a scanning axis, wherein during the first traversing step, the blade remains spaced apart from the linear solidification device by a fixed distance in a first blade spacing direction along the travel axis;
second traversing the linear solidification device and the blade along a second travel direction along the travel axis, wherein during the second traversing step, the blade remains fixed apart from the linear solidification device by the fixed distance in a second blade spacing direction along the travel axis, wherein the second blade spacing direction is opposite the first blade spacing direction; and
traversing the linear solidification device along the travel axis relative to the blade.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device with a vacuum blade is shown and described. In certain examples, the vacuum blade travels at a fixed distance relative to the linear solidification device as the linear solidification device travels along a travel axis. In other examples, the linear solidification device and the vacuum blade travel along the travel axis independently of one another.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material, comprising:
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first traversing a linear solidification device and a blade along a first travel direction along a travel axis while the linear solidification device scans solidification energy onto an exposed surface of the solidifiable material along a scanning axis, wherein during the first traversing step, the blade remains spaced apart from the linear solidification device by a fixed distance in a first blade spacing direction along the travel axis; second traversing the linear solidification device and the blade along a second travel direction along the travel axis, wherein during the second traversing step, the blade remains fixed apart from the linear solidification device by the fixed distance in a second blade spacing direction along the travel axis, wherein the second blade spacing direction is opposite the first blade spacing direction; and traversing the linear solidification device along the travel axis relative to the blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification