METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising:
- a workpiece support for supporting a base material thereon;
a laser for supplying laser energy to the base material;
an imaging device for capturing an image of the base material;
a controller for receiving image data from the imaging device; and
an optics assembly coupled to the controller and adapted to receive instructions therefrom, the optics assembly comprising;
a shape-controlling mechanism;
a polarization mechanism; and
an intensity controlling mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to method and apparatuses for 3D printing. The apparatuses include a stationary workpiece stage and an optics assembly adapted to direct laser energy to different locations on the workpiece stage. The optics assembly includes one or more of an intensity-controlling mechanism, a polarization mechanism, a shape-controlling mechanism, and a beam-steering mechanism configured to direct laser energy towards the workpiece stage. The method includes directing an energy beam from a laser towards a workpiece stage while adjusting the direction of the energy beam, adjusting the intensity of the energy beam, adjusting the shape of the energy beam, or adjusting the polarization of the energy beam.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising:
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a workpiece support for supporting a base material thereon; a laser for supplying laser energy to the base material; an imaging device for capturing an image of the base material; a controller for receiving image data from the imaging device; and an optics assembly coupled to the controller and adapted to receive instructions therefrom, the optics assembly comprising; a shape-controlling mechanism; a polarization mechanism; and an intensity controlling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising:
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a workpiece support for supporting a base material thereon; a laser for supplying laser energy to the base material; an imaging device for capturing an image of the base material; a controller for receiving image data from the imaging device; and an optics assembly coupled to the controller and adapted to receive instructions therefrom, the optics assembly comprising; a beam-steering mechanism comprising a plurality of actuatable mirrors; a shape-controlling mechanism comprising one or more rotatable housings each having a circular opening formed therein for accommodating the laser energy; a polarization mechanism comprising one or more rotatable polarization sensitive elements; and an intensity controlling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of adjusting a laser during a 3D printing operation, comprising:
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directing laser energy from a printing source to a base material on a stationary workpiece support; capturing an image of an impingement location of the laser energy on the base material; providing image data of the captured image to a controller; in response to the controller receiving the image data, providing instructions from the controller to the printing source to adjust one or more parameters of the printing source; and adjusting one or more parameters of the printing source. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification