Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the automatic designing economically with rapidity and high reliability by providing a step to partially change stored sets of data for defining the solid part of the shape of an object and coverting the solid part into a part consisting of a region where it is cured or a region where it is maintained in an uncured state according to each of exposure levels. SOLUTION: When a design displayed on the output image screen of a computer is satisfactory, parts are manufactured and when the design needs to be corrected, a change is repeatedly made through the computer. In this case, a pattern for stimulating each of many superposed thin layers 30a, 30b, 30c of a transferable fluid medium 22 is changed partially in a data processing step 25. Further, alteration data for converting the solid part to the part comprising a region where it is cured according to a first exposure level and a region where it is cured according to a second lower exposure level or a region where it is maintained in an uncured state while each of the thin layers 30a, 30b, 30c is initially formed, is created.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide techniques for improving manufacturing system and method of a component in reliability and precision (with little curl or subsequent distortion) in the case of forming a three-dimensional object of stacked layers by applying stereo-lithographic mechanism. SOLUTION: Data manipulation techniques, based on layer comparisons, are used to control exposure in order to delay solidification of the material on at least portions of at least some cross-sections until upper layers of material are deposited so as to allow down-facing surface of the object to be located at a depth in the building material which is equal to or exceeds a minimum cure depth that can effectively be used for solidifying these features. Similar data manipulations are used to ensure that a minimum reliable coating thickness exists, above previously solidified material, before attempting solidification of a next layer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make high resolution objects by stereolithography utilizing low-resolution materials which are limited by their inability to form unsupported structures of required thinness and/or their inability to form coatings of a required thinness. SOLUTION: Data manipulation techniques, based on layer comparisons, are used to control exposure in order to delay solidification of the material on at least portions of at least some cross-sections until higher layers of material are deposited so as to allow down-facing features of the object to be located at a depth in the building material which is equal to or exceeds a minimum cure depth that can effectively be used for solidifying these features. Similar data manipulations are used to ensure a minimum reliable coating thicknesses exist, above previously solidified material, before attempting solidification of a next layer. In addition, horizontal comparison techniques are used to provide enhanced cross-sectional data for use in forming the object. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately form an object by a method for automatically forming a three-dimensional object. SOLUTION: The three-dimensional object (30) is formed by selectively curing many layers (23) of a transitive fluid medium (22) through exposing each of the layers (23) in a pattern selected by a specific stimulation (27). The fluid medium 22 is irradiated with the stimulation (27) in the form of a beam having a specified width and thereby thin layers (30a, 30b, 30c) which transit are successively laminated into a constituted object. Further, the selected pattern (20) of the layers (23) is obtained by processing stored data (20) which define the desired shape of the object (30). A data processing step (21) partially changes the stored data so that the changed data representing the individual thin layers corrected appropriately to the width of the beam is provided.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the quicker development and production of a highly accurate three dimensional plastic by a method wherein the coordinate data on an offered three dimensional substance are operated so as to automatically produce a three dimensional substance in response to the operated coordinate data. SOLUTION: By converting the CAD/CAM data of a substance into data representing the sections of the substance and directing a laser beam, the sectional shapes of the substance are drawn on the surfaces of liquid photosensitive polymer layers by means of the above-mentioned sectional data. By directing the beam so as to form a section to be adhered onto the sections already hardened and piled up through the hardening of the liquid photosensitive polymer layer in order to be arranged on the sections already hardened and piled up, the sections already hardened and piled up are positioned to the liquid photosensitive polymer layer. Further, by controlling a directing means and a positioning means by utilizing the above-mentioned sectional data, the piled-up sections of the substance are reproduced out of hardened photosensitive polymers.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the precision of a three-dimensional object by reducing strain in forming the object by stereo-lithography. SOLUTION: When one layer of the three-dimensional object is formed by forming a medium layer on a previously solidified layer of the object and exposing the medium layer selectively to a solidifying stimulus, at least one part of at least one layer is exposed in a tile pattern in which each tile is separated by the interval of the unexposed medium between the tiles from any adjacent tile.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for making high resolution objects by stereolithography utilizing low resolution materials which are limited by their inability to form unsupported structures of desired thinness and/or their inability to form coatings of desired thinness. Data manipulation techniques, based on layer comparisons, are used to control exposure in order to delay solidification of the material on at least portions of at least some cross-sections until higher layers of material are deposited so as to allow down-facing features of the object to be located at a depth in the building material which is equal to or exceeds a minimum cure depth that can effectively be used for solidifying these features. Similar data manipulations are used to ensure minimum reliable coating thicknesses exist, above previously solidified material, before attempting solidification of a next layer. In addition, horizontal comparison techniques are used to provide enhanced cross-sectional data for use in forming the object. Further, several techniques for automatically performing Z-error correction through the manipulation of a three-dimensional object representation are described. Still further, techniques for producing objects useful for investment casting applications are described, including techniques allowing for the drainage of unsolidified material. A method and apparatus for the automatic generation of vents and drain is also provided.
Abstract:
A variety of support structures and build styles for use in Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing systems are described wherein particular emphasis is given to Thermal Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modeling, and Selective Deposition Modeling systems, and wherein a 3D modeling system is presented which uses multijet dispensing and a single material for both object and support formation.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional object is formed by selectively depositing successive layers (14) of build material from a print-head (9) having a plurality of orifices or nozzles (10(1)-10(96)), such as an ink-jet type of print-head. The print-head (9) is moved (X-Y control) relative to a support platform (15) in a series of scans in the X-direction offset from one another in the Y-direction and possibly overlapping. The orifices (10(1)-10(96)) extend transversely of the scan X-direction and may be set at an angle (α) to it to control the resolution perpendicular to the scan direction. The platform (15) is movable relative to the print-head in the Z-direction for forming each successive layer (14). The build material is a flowable material and may be a radiation-curable material, such as an ultra-violet curable photo-polymer. The data according to which each layer is formed may be manipulated according to a selected build style to determine the selective activation of the print-head orifices.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for use in building three-dimensional objects on substantially a cross-sectional basis including methods and apparatus for forming successive layers using counter-rotating rollers, ink jet recoaters, spinning members which sling material, applicator bars that dispense material via a meniscus and/or independently dispensed streams, and also including methods and apparatus to determine a preferred region over which to form a layer and to check for building errors.