A deposition mechanism is configured for producing a three-dimensional object within a build area using a flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique, and includes an exposure device configured for emitting electromagnetic waves, the exposure device having an array of outlets configured for emitting electromagnetic waves toward an exposure site to solidify applied flowable material to produce the three-dimensional object, and a lens array positioned between the outlets of the exposure device and the exposure site and configured to focus the electromagnetic waves exiting the outlets toward the exposure site, where the lens array includes a plurality of ball lenses, each ball lens configured to reduce an image formed by the electromagnetic waves passing through the respective ball lens. The exposure device may include circuit boards, each having a plurality of light emitting devices connected thereto, and optical fibers extending from the light emitting devices to form the array of outlets.
B29C 64/282 - Arrangements for irradiation using multiple radiation means, e.g. micromirrors or multiple light-emitting diodes [LED] of the same type, e.g. using different energy levels
A deposition mechanism is usable for producing a three-dimensional object on a build platform using a resin in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable through the build area, a supply of the resin in flowable form mounted on the carriage, and a carrying surface configured for moving to carry the resin from the supply to an application site within the build area for application to produce the object. A flexible screen is configured for emitting electromagnetic waves to solidify the resin. In one configuration, the flexible screen is positioned below the carrying surface, such that the carrying surface overlays the flexible screen and the flexible screen and the carrying surface have conforming shapes, and the carrying surface is permeable to the electromagnetic waves. In another configuration, the carrying surface includes the flexible screen, and an outer surface of the flexible screen carries the resin.
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
A deposition mechanism is usable for producing a three-dimensional object on a build platform using a resin in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable through the build area, a supply of the resin in flowable form mounted on the carriage, and a carrying surface configured for moving to carry the resin from the supply to an application site within the build area for application to produce the object. A flexible screen is configured for emitting electromagnetic waves to solidify the resin. In one configuration, the flexible screen is positioned below the carrying surface, such that the carrying surface overlays the flexible screen and the flexible screen and the carrying surface have conforming shapes, and the carrying surface is permeable to the electromagnetic waves. In another configuration, the carrying surface includes the flexible screen, and an outer surface of the flexible screen carries the resin.
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
B33Y 40/00 - Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
B29C 64/124 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
6.
Additive manufacturing apparatus, system, and method
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
B29C 64/236 - Driving means for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B29C 64/135 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
An assembly for supplying a resin or other flowable material includes a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, and a roller positioned at least partially within the supply vat and configured to be in contact with the flowable material. The roller has a cylindrical outer surface to carry the flowable material out of the supply vat for application to produce an object. The supply vat has an inner support wall, with a space is defined outward of the inner support wall, and the inner support wall has an opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the space. The roller extends through the opening, and a seal is engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the cylindrical outer surface of the roller and positioned adjacent the opening to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the opening.
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B29C 64/236 - Driving means for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer
A deposition mechanism is configured for producing a three-dimensional object within a build area using a flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique, and includes an exposure device configured for emitting electromagnetic waves, the exposure device having an array of outlets configured for emitting electromagnetic waves toward an exposure site to solidify applied flowable material to produce the three-dimensional object, and a lens array positioned between the outlets of the exposure device and the exposure site and configured to focus the electromagnetic waves exiting the outlets toward the exposure site, where the lens array includes a plurality of ball lenses, each ball lens configured to reduce an image formed by the electromagnetic waves passing through the respective ball lens. The exposure device may include circuit boards, each having a plurality of light emitting devices connected thereto, and optical fibers extending from the light emitting devices to form the array of outlets.
B29C 64/282 - Arrangements for irradiation using multiple radiation means, e.g. micromirrors or multiple light-emitting diodes [LED] of the same type, e.g. using different energy levels
A deposition mechanism is configured for producing a three-dimensional object within a build area using a flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique, and includes an exposure device configured for emitting electromagnetic waves, the exposure device having an array of outlets configured for emitting electromagnetic waves toward an exposure site to solidify applied flowable material to produce the three-dimensional object, and a lens array positioned between the outlets of the exposure device and the exposure site and configured to focus the electromagnetic waves exiting the outlets toward the exposure site, where the lens array includes a plurality of ball lenses, each ball lens configured to reduce an image formed by the electromagnetic waves passing through the respective ball lens. The exposure device may include circuit boards, each having a plurality of light emitting devices connected thereto, and optical fibers extending from the light emitting devices to form the array of outlets.
B23K 26/02 - Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impactAligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
B29C 64/124 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage movable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
B29C 64/106 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B29C 64/20 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B29C 64/20 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object using a resin or other flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique uses a roller or other applicator to carry a layer of the flowable material to an application site, an exposure device to emit electromagnetic waves to apply the layer to the object to build the object, and optionally further including an initial exposure with emitted electromagnetic waves to at least partially solidify the layer of the flowable material prior to the roller carrying the layer to the application site.
B29C 64/277 - Arrangements for irradiation using multiple radiation means, e.g. micromirrors or multiple light-emitting diodes [LED]
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B29C 64/236 - Driving means for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer
B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object using a resin or other flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique uses a roller or other applicator to carry a layer of the flowable material to an application site, an exposure device to emit electromagnetic waves to apply the layer to the object to build the object, and optionally further including an initial exposure with emitted electromagnetic waves to at least partially solidify the layer of the flowable material prior to the roller carrying the layer to the application site.
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object using a resin or other flowable material in a layer-by-layer technique uses a roller or other applicator to carry a layer of the flowable material to an application site, an exposure device to emit electromagnetic waves to apply the layer to the object to build the object, and optionally further including an initial exposure with emitted electromagnetic waves to at least partially solidify the layer of the flowable material prior to the roller carrying the layer to the application site.
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The apparatus may be provided on an autonomous or semi-autonomous deposition mechanism.
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support assembly having a build platform with a build area; a deposition mechanism configured for producing a three-dimensional object on the build platform using a flowable resin; a carriage configured for movement through the build area; a vat mounted on the carriage to contain the flowable resin; a roller having a smooth, cylindrical outer surface configured to be partially submerged in the flowable resin in the vat. The roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin on the outer surface from the vat to an application site within the build area. An exposure device mounted on the carriage and configured for emitting electromagnetic waves through an outlet toward an exposure site within the build area to solidify the applied resin.
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.
B29C 64/129 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask
B29C 64/236 - Driving means for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer
