HEATING TECHNIQUES IN ADDITIVE FABRICATION AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20190263055A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-08-29

    申请号:US16285477

    申请日:2019-02-26

    Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

    Abstract: Substantially equal amounts of thermal energy may be provided over a build area of an additive fabrication device using as few as one heat source by selectively attenuating thermal energy emitted by the heat source. The thermal energy may be selectively attenuated by a structure that blocks portions of the thermal energy from being directly incident upon the build area such that the heat is normalized over the build area. The heat distribution over the build area may, in some embodiments, approximate the heat distribution produced by a flat field heating element, yet may be produced at comparatively lower cost and with less complex engineering.

    TECHNIQUES FOR BUILD PLATFORM PART RELEASE IN ADDITIVE FABRICATION AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20190176393A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-06-13

    申请号:US15835163

    申请日:2017-12-07

    Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

    Abstract: According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device and a build platform suitable for use within an additive fabrication device are provided. The build platform may include a build surface on which material may be formed by the additive fabrication device when the build platform is installed within the additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, the build platform may include a flexible build layer and at least one removal mechanism configured to be actuated to apply a force to the flexible build layer. Such actuation may cause the flexible build layer to deform, thereby enabling separation of material adhered to the build surface from the build platform. According to some embodiments, the build platform may comprise a restorative mechanism that acts to return the flexible build layer to a flat state so that subsequent additive fabrication may form material on a flat build surface.

    TECHNIQUES FOR APPLICATION OF LIGHT IN ADDITIVE FABRICATION AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20190152135A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-05-23

    申请号:US16163403

    申请日:2018-10-17

    Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

    Abstract: Techniques for illuminating a photocurable material within a build area of an additive fabrication device are described. According to some aspects, a light source is provided that can be moved alongside a build area, allowing light to be directed to any desired position within the build area by moving the light source. This configuration may also allow the distance from the light source to the build area to be substantially the same for each position across the build area by moving the light source whilst maintaining a fixed distance from the light source to the build volume. The described approach may allow for fabrication of larger parts in an additive fabrication device by expanding or eliminating the practical upper limit on the area of the build volume that can be imposed by use of a laser light source in such a device.

    SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SIMULATING INTERMEDIATE FORMS FOR ADDITIVE FABRICATION

    公开(公告)号:US20190070782A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-07

    申请号:US15996726

    申请日:2018-06-04

    Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

    Inventor: Shane Wighton

    CPC classification number: B29C64/386 B33Y50/00 G05B2219/49007

    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method of optimizing an additive fabrication process for an object is provided, the method comprising obtaining a representation of an intermediate form of the object, the intermediate form being an expected shape of the object when partially fabricated by the additive fabrication process, simulating one or more forces expected to be applied to the intermediate form of the object during the additive fabrication process, evaluating one or more results of the simulating step against one or more criteria, and adapting the additive fabrication process based at least in part on a result of the evaluating.

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