公开(公告)号：JP2003136604A

公开(公告)日：2003-05-14

申请号：JP2002223192

申请日：2002-07-31

Applicant: 3 D SYSTEMS INC

Inventor： DARRAH JAMES F ,  ZU XIAOSHU

IPC: B22F3/105 ,  B29C67/00 ,  G05B19/4099

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the building time of an article in a method and an apparatus for selective laser sintering. SOLUTION: The method and the apparatus for computer controlling to manufacture a three-dimensional article layer by layer are provided. The method comprises the steps of distributing a fusible powder layer, then controlling the laser in a raster scanning method to irradiate the selected place of the powder layer with the laser, fusing the powder to the section of the article to be formed in the layer so that a plurality of the fusing sections are fused to become one article. In order to obtain an optimum filling scanning time, a laser scanning line is decided for each section. The optimum filling scanning time is determined by estimating the filling scanning times of the sections rotated at a plurality of rotary angles for at least one sample filling and scanning necessary to form the article by a computer. A real filling scanning vector used for the selective laser sintering of the article is rotate from a coordinate axis on the sample surface according to the sectional rotary angle for imparting the shortest estimating filling scanning time.

公开(公告)号：JP2003127238A

公开(公告)日：2003-05-08

申请号：JP2002223183

申请日：2002-07-31

Applicant: 3 D SYSTEMS INC

Inventor： DARRAH JAMES F ,  ZU XIAOSHU

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  G05B19/4099

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the time for construction of each layer in selective laser sintering. SOLUTION: In a computer controlled apparatus and method for preparing a three-dimensional body layer by layer, laser irradiates a selected spot of a powder layer and fuses the powder into a section of the body to be formed into the layer and a plurality of fused sections are fused into one body. The laser is controlled by a raster scanning method over the selected spot of the powder layer. Parallel raster scanning lines are set apart from each other between the center lines, according to a selected pitch, i.e., a space value of filling scanning lines. The positions of the parallel scanning lines are determined not for the outlines of the section to be formed, but for the coordinate system in the powder layer, and the parallel scanning lines are offset for each other by 1/2 of the pitch. By this disposition of the scanning lines, a structural strength of the body to be formed is optimized and, at the same time, the number of the scanning lines necessary for forming the body is minimized.