公开(公告)号：US12263648B2

公开(公告)日：2025-04-01

申请号：US18337650

申请日：2023-06-20

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Shane Wighton ,  Andrew M. Goldman ,  Henry Whitney ,  Justin Keenan

IPC: B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/129 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B29C64/286 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  G01N21/94 ,  G01N21/958

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are provided for identifying contamination in additive fabrication devices by measuring light interacting with the contamination using one or more light sensors. Contamination located between a light source and a target of a light source can affect the uniformity and intensity of the light source when incident upon the target. For instance, in an inverse stereolithography device, contamination located between a light source and a liquid photopolymer resin that is to be cured can affect the quality of the fabricated object when the light is scattered or blocked by the contamination. Identifying the presence of contamination between the light source and the liquid photopolymer resin and alerting the user prior to initiating a fabrication process may increase the quality of the resulting fabricated object and improve the user experience by saving time and photocurable liquid.

公开(公告)号：US11312074B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-26

申请号：US16570981

申请日：2019-09-13

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Adam Damiano ,  Dmitri Megretski ,  Shane Wighton ,  Maxim Lobovsky

IPC: B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/124

Abstract: According to some aspects, an additive fabrication apparatus is provided configured to form layers of material on a build platform, each layer of material being formed so as to contact a supporting liquid or a film disposed within a container, in addition to the build platform, a liquid photopolymer, and/or a previously formed layer of a material. The additive fabrication apparatus may comprise a container and a leveling element, wherein the leveling element is configured to move across a liquid-liquid interface to promote or create a flat interface between the two liquids. According to some aspects, the additive fabrication comprises a film disposed between two liquids, wherein the film maintains or provides a flat surface at the interface of the two liquids.

公开(公告)号：US20210078251A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-18

申请号：US16570981

申请日：2019-09-13

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Adam Damiano ,  Dmitri Megretski ,  Shane Wighton ,  Maxim Lobovsky

IPC: B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/245

Abstract: According to some aspects, an additive fabrication apparatus is provided configured to form layers of material on a build platform, each layer of material being formed so as to contact a supporting liquid or a film disposed within a container, in addition to the build platform, a liquid photopolymer, and/or a previously formed layer of a material. The additive fabrication apparatus may comprise a container and a leveling element, wherein the leveling element is configured to move across a liquid-liquid interface to promote or create a flat interface between the two liquids. According to some aspects, the additive fabrication comprises a film disposed between two liquids, wherein the film maintains or provides a flat surface at the interface of the two liquids.

公开(公告)号：US20200282657A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-10

申请号：US16811567

申请日：2020-03-06

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Shane Wighton ,  Andrew M. Goldman ,  Henry Whitney ,  Justin Keenan

IPC: B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/129 ,  B29C64/286 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/236

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are provided for identifying contamination in additive fabrication devices by measuring light interacting with the contamination using one or more light sensors. Contamination located between a light source and a target of a light source can affect the uniformity and intensity of the light source when incident upon the target. For instance, in an inverse stereolithography device, contamination located between a light source and a liquid photopolymer resin that is to be cured can affect the quality of the fabricated object when the light is scattered or blocked by the contamination. Identifying the presence of contamination between the light source and the liquid photopolymer resin and alerting the user prior to initiating a fabrication process may increase the quality of the resulting fabricated object and improve the user experience by saving time and photocurable liquid.

公开(公告)号：US20200171751A1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-04

申请号：US16680623

申请日：2019-11-12

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Shane Wighton

IPC: B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00

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.

公开(公告)号：US10471659B2

公开(公告)日：2019-11-12

申请号：US15996726

申请日：2018-06-04

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Shane Wighton

IPC: B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00

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.

公开(公告)号：US20180297291A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-18

申请号：US16009722

申请日：2018-06-15

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Shane Wighton ,  Maxim Lobovsky ,  Peter Schmidt-Nielsen

IPC: B29C64/40 ,  B29C64/129 ,  B29C64/141 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B29C33/38 ,  B29C64/106 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/135 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/118 ,  B29C64/147

Abstract: Techniques for generating a support structure for an object are provided. In some embodiments, one or more regions of the object are identified as one or more regions to which mechanical support is to be provided and one or more support points within at least a first region of the one or more regions are identified. A support structure may be generated for the object that comprises one or more support tips coupled to the object at the one or more support points, where the support tips being generated based at least in part on a direction normal to the surface of the object at the respective support point. Techniques for providing visual feedback to a user relating to an amount of support that a support structure is expected to provide during fabrication are also provided.

公开(公告)号：US09987800B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-05

申请号：US14543138

申请日：2014-11-17

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Shane Wighton

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  G05B19/18 ,  B33Y50/00 ,  B29C64/386

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.