公开(公告)号：US11926105B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US16835991

申请日：2020-03-31

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin FrantzDale

IPC: B29C64/40 ,  B29C64/129 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/00

CPC classification number: B29C64/40 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B29C64/129 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/00

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are described for generating support structures that may be easily removed after fabrication yet provide sufficient structural support during fabrication. In some cases, the techniques may include tuning an extent to which pillars of a support structure are interconnected to one another in regions proximate to the part. In some cases, the techniques may include fabricating very small contact structures, referred to herein as “hair” supports, in regions of a support structure where it connects with the part. In some cases, the techniques may include generating support structures that comprise obliquely-angled tips, which allow forces during fabrication to be applied in a preferred direction even when the support structure does not make a connection to the part in the preferred direction.

公开(公告)号：US11167490B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-09

申请号：US15807404

申请日：2017-11-08

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Marcin Slaczka ,  Benjamin FrantzDale ,  Ian Ferguson

IPC: B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/135 ,  B32B25/08 ,  B32B25/20 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: According to some aspects, a container is provided for use in an additive fabrication device configured to fabricate parts by curing a liquid photopolymer to form layers of cured photopolymer. The container may comprise a laminated multi-material layer having an elastic first layer that aids in separation of cured photopolymer from the container in addition to a barrier layer on an upper surface that protects the first layer from exposure to substances in the liquid photopolymer that may not be compatible with the material of the first layer.

公开(公告)号：US20200215762A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-09

申请号：US16821486

申请日：2020-03-17

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin FrantzDale ,  Justin Keenan

IPC: B29C64/393 ,  G01B11/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: Techniques of optically sensing fiducial targets, such as calibration patterns, within an additive fabrication device are provided. In some embodiments, fiducial targets may be disposed on a structure configured to contact source material of the additive fabrication device, the source material being a material from which the device is configured to fabricate solid objects. Indirect sensing means may be employed such that light emitted from a light source of the additive fabrication device scatters from the surface of a fiducial target. At least some of this scattered light can be measured by a sensor and used to determine a position of the fiducial target. In some embodiments, the fiducial target may be configured to move relative to the light source and/or sensor to provide additional information on the target's position via the light scattered from its surface.

公开(公告)号：US10350827B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-16

申请号：US15634055

申请日：2017-06-27

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Alexander Nolet ,  Benjamin FrantzDale ,  Dmitri Megretski

IPC: G01B21/02 ,  B29C64/232 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B29C64/227 ,  B29C64/393 ,  G01B5/06 ,  G01L5/00 ,  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：US20240212395A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-27

申请号：US18394144

申请日：2023-12-22

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Edward Tekeian ,  Benjamin FrantzDale ,  Jacob A. Misra ,  Kyle P. McNulty

IPC: G07C3/14 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00

CPC classification number: G07C3/146 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00

Abstract: Techniques are described to gather information from an end user relating to fabrication process failures in a standardized manner. This information may be provided to an additive fabrication device manufacturer and analyzed by the manufacturer. Analysis may include identifying patterns in the data to identity problems relating to an additive fabrication device, software used to operate the device and/or user operations. Identification of such patterns may aid in selecting and/or generating support solutions to be provided the end user, or to improve the additive fabrication device and/or software.

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：US10926457B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-23

申请号：US16439964

申请日：2019-06-13

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Maxim Lobovsky ,  Steven Thomas ,  Benjamin FrantzDale

IPC: B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B29C64/20 ,  B29C64/135 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B29C64/255

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method of additive fabrication wherein a plurality of layers of material are formed on a build platform is provided. The method may comprise forming a layer of material in contact with a container, and subsequent to the forming of the layer of material, rotating the container relative to the build platform and moving the build platform relative to the container, thereby creating an effective fulcrum about an axis, wherein the rotating of the container and moving of the build platform causes the layer of material to separate from the container. According to some embodiments, the container may be configured to rotate about a fixed axis. According to some embodiments, moving the build platform may comprise moving the build platform toward the container.

公开(公告)号：US20190351614A1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-21

申请号：US16511110

申请日：2019-07-15

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Alexander Nolet ,  Benjamin FrantzDale ,  Dmitri Megretski

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

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：US20190322053A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-24

申请号：US16439964

申请日：2019-06-13

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Maxim Lobovsky ,  Steven Thomas ,  Benjamin FrantzDale

IPC: B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B29C64/20 ,  B29C64/135 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/245

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method of additive fabrication wherein a plurality of layers of material are formed on a build platform is provided. The method may comprise forming a layer of material in contact with a container, and subsequent to the forming of the layer of material, rotating the container relative to the build platform and moving the build platform relative to the container, thereby creating an effective fulcrum about an axis, wherein the rotating of the container and moving of the build platform causes the layer of material to separate from the container. According to some embodiments, the container may be configured to rotate about a fixed axis. According to some embodiments, moving the build platform may comprise moving the build platform toward the container.

公开(公告)号：US10369747B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-06

申请号：US15866766

申请日：2018-01-10

Applicant: Formlabs, Inc.

Inventor： Maxim Lobovsky ,  Steven Thomas ,  Benjamin FrantzDale

IPC: B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/135 ,  B29C64/20 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B29C64/245

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method of additive fabrication wherein a plurality of layers of material are formed on a build platform is provided. The method may comprise forming a layer of material in contact with a container, and subsequent to the forming of the layer of material, rotating the container relative to the build platform and moving the build platform relative to the container, thereby creating an effective fulcrum about an axis, wherein the rotating of the container and moving of the build platform causes the layer of material to separate from the container. According to some embodiments, the container may be configured to rotate about a fixed axis. According to some embodiments, moving the build platform may comprise moving the build platform toward the container.