US4996010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography
Assignee: 3D Systems Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-18
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2008-04-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved sterolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bonbardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being specially processed to reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction even for rather difficult object shapes, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process, and further including post processing wheren the object is subjected to additional UV curing while the object is under water.
Inventors
- 👤 Borzo Modrek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:49
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/40; B29C64/10; B29C64/106; B29C64/124; B29C64/129; B29C64/135; B33; B33Y; B33Y10/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising the following steps: selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially transformed; generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from said surface; and exposing said preliminary object to second synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance whereupon said enclosed medium is substantially transformed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising the following steps: selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially transformed; generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from said surface; and exposing said preliminary object to second synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance whereupon said enclosed medium is substantially transformed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising generally surrounding said surface with said substance which is a fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising generally surrounding said surface with said fluid which is water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively exposing said medium to said first synergistic stimulation which is UV radiation from a laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising exposing said preliminary object to said second synergistic stimulation which is radiation from a high pressure mercury arc lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising generally surrounding said surface with said substance which also excludes oxygen from said surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said substantially closed surface of said preliminary object further encloses medium that is substantially transformed upon exposure to said first synergistic stimulation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively exposing said medium which is comprised of more than one material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising forming said medium to contain at least one photopolymer as a constituent of said medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the selective exposing step further comprises selectively exposing successive layers of said medium to said first synergistic stimulation according to successive representations of corresponding cross-sections of said object, whereupon medium in said successive layers substantially transforms into said preliminary object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising the steps of: selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially completely transformed; exposing said surface to second synergistic stimulation until said surface substantially completely transforms; generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from the surface; and exposing said preliminary object having said substantially completely transformed surface to third synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance, whereupon said enclosed medium substantially completely transforms.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising the steps of: selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially completely transformed; exposing said surface to second synergistic stimulation until said surface substantially completely transforms; generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from the surface; and exposing said preliminary object having said substantially completely transformed surface to third synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance, whereupon said enclosed medium substantially completely transforms.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising: at least one computer programmed to form a building representation of the object which deviates from a corresponding object representation by inclusion of a deviation specifying a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially transformed; means coupled to said at least one computer for receiving said building representation and for selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation according to said building representation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising said substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least said enclosed medium that is not substantially transformed; means for generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from said surface; and means for exposing said preliminary object to second synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance whereupon said enclosed medium is substantially transformed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation, comprising: at least one computer programmed to form a building representation of the object which deviates from a corresponding object representation by inclusion of a deviation specifying a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially transformed; means coupled to said at least one computer for receiving said building representation and for selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation according to said building representation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising said substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least said enclosed medium that is not substantially transformed; means for generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from said surface; and means for exposing said preliminary object to second synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance whereupon said enclosed medium is substantially transformed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means coupled to said at least one computer comprises a UV laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for exposing said preliminary object to said second synergistic stimulation comprises a high pressure mercury arc lamp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one computer is programmed to specify said substantially closed surface of said preliminary object further enclosing medium that is substantially transformed by said first synergistic stimulation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means coupled to said at least one computer comprises means for selectively exposing successive layers of said medium to said first synergistic stimulation according to said building representation which comprises successive representations of corresponding cross-sections of said object whereupon said preliminary object is built layer by layer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation comprising: at least one computer programmed to form a building representation of the object which deviates from a corresponding object representation by inclusion of a deviation specifying a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially completely transformed; means coupled to the at least one computer for receiving the building representation and for selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation according to said building representation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising said substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least said enclosed medium; means for generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from said surface; and means for exposing said surface to second synergistic stimulation until said surface substantially completely transforms, and thereafter exposing said preliminary object having said substantially completely transformed surface to third synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance whereupon said enclosed medium is substantially completely transformed.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
185 words
An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation upon exposure to synergistic stimulation comprising: at least one computer programmed to form a building representation of the object which deviates from a corresponding object representation by inclusion of a deviation specifying a substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least enclosed medium that is not substantially completely transformed; means coupled to the at least one computer for receiving the building representation and for selectively exposing said medium to first synergistic stimulation according to said building representation whereupon said medium selectively transforms into a preliminary object comprising said substantially closed surface of substantially transformed medium surrounding at least said enclosed medium; means for generally surrounding said substantially closed surface by a substance which conducts heat away from said surface; and means for exposing said surface to second synergistic stimulation until said surface substantially completely transforms, and thereafter exposing said preliminary object having said substantially completely transformed surface to third synergistic stimulation while the surface is generally surrounded by said substance whereupon said enclosed medium is substantially completely transformed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |