公开(公告)号：US20220363001A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-17

申请号：US17828293

申请日：2022-05-31

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Adam Damiano ,  Andre Comella

IPC: B29C64/35 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/129 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B29C64/227 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B01D39/16 ,  B01J8/00

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method is provided of removing debris from a liquid photopolymer in an additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, a mesh of solid material may be formed in an additive fabrication device from a liquid photopolymer, and particles of debris present in the liquid photopolymer may adhere to the mesh. The debris may thereby be removed from the liquid photopolymer by removing the mesh from the additive fabrication device. The mesh may then be discarded.

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：US20220032547A1

公开(公告)日：2022-02-03

申请号：US17386143

申请日：2021-07-27

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Carlos Ruiz-Vargas ,  Robb Morgan

IPC: B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00 ,  G05B19/4099

Abstract: Techniques are described for calibrating an optical system in an additive fabrication device using an image of the build surface within the device. These techniques allow calibration to be performed by imaging one or more calibration features generated on (or at) the build surface, which may include illuminated regions of the build surface, regions of the build surface on which solid material has been formed, and/or regions of the build surface to which energy has otherwise been directed thereby making those regions distinguishable from their surroundings. The calibration features may be produced (at least in part) by the optical system to be calibrated. The location of the calibration features within the image may be compared with the intended location of these calibration features, and corrections to the optical system determined based on any differences between the actual and intended locations.

公开(公告)号：US20210394439A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-23

申请号：US17350007

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Andrew M. Goldman ,  Connor Evans

IPC: B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B29C64/277 ,  B29C64/286 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: Techniques are described for tagging source materials for additive fabrication by incorporating a fluorescent and/or phosphorescent taggant into the source material. A light source within an additive fabrication device may direct light onto the source material and a light sensor may detect whether light having appropriate characteristics was produced from the source material through fluorescence and/or phosphorescence. If such light is detected, the additive fabrication device may determine that the source material is from an approved source and thereby has known properties that may be relied upon for fabrication. Otherwise, the additive fabrication device may determine that the source material is from an unapproved source and may take action such as inhibiting fabrication and/or providing a warning to a user.

公开(公告)号：US20210370601A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

申请号：US17402914

申请日：2021-08-16

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Eduardo Torrealba ,  Steven Thomas ,  Christopher Auld

IPC: B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/218 ,  B29C35/02 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/205 ,  B22F10/20

Abstract: Techniques for improved efficiency of sintering in additive fabrication are described. According to some aspects, mechanisms for depositing and leveling source material are combined with a mechanism for heating the material. In some embodiments, one or more heating elements may be arranged to lead and/or follow a material deposition mechanism such that heat may be applied to the build region in concert with deposition of material. As a result of this technique, the heating and depositing steps may be performed closer together in time and/or heat may be applied more directly to the material than in conventional systems. As a result, greater control over material temperature may be achieved, thereby avoiding excess temperature exposure and subsequent undesirable changes to the material.

公开(公告)号：USD934313S1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-26

申请号：US29690390

申请日：2019-05-07

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Designer： Yoav Reches ,  John Ouchterlony ,  Kat Ely ,  Adam Lebovitz ,  Brian Chan ,  Ian Ferguson

公开(公告)号：US11130281B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-28

申请号：US16285477

申请日：2019-02-26

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Justin Keenan ,  Brendan Pratt ,  Maxim Lobovsky

IPC: B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/286 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y10/00

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.

公开(公告)号：US11097476B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-24

申请号：US16511110

申请日：2019-07-15

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Alexander Nolet ,  Benjamin FrantzDale ,  Dmitri Megretski

IPC: G01B21/02 ,  G01L5/00 ,  B29C64/227 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B29C64/232 ,  B29C64/393 ,  G01B5/06 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a position of a build platform in an additive fabrication device are provided. Such techniques may include detecting the onset and/or dissipation of force applied to a build platform as it moves from being in contact with, to being out of contact with, a container. In some embodiments, the techniques described herein may be applied in a stereolithographic additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, measurement of forces applied to a build platform may be used to provide for reliable and consistent measurements of the height of the build platform relative to a container by measuring such forces at various positions of the build platform and analyzing the pattern of the forces with distance from the container.

公开(公告)号：US20210239535A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-05

申请号：US17168132

申请日：2021-02-04

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Justin Keenan

IPC: G01J5/02 ,  G01J5/08

Abstract: Techniques for preventing contamination of an electronic component via gas flow are described. According to some aspects, an electronic component module is configured to provide gas flow past and away from an electronic component such that thermal and material exchange is limited between the electronic component module and a coupled system. In some embodiments, the coupled system may be a portion of an additive fabrication device. As a result, a reduced number of contaminants may adhere to the electronic component, extending its lifespan and reducing maintenance.

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.