Method for building three-dimensional cylindrical objects

Abstract

A method operates a three-dimensional object printer for production of cylindrical-shaped objects. The method uses a controller to operate an actuator operatively connected to a cylindrical member to rotate the cylindrical member within at least two supports, operate at least two printheads supplied with different materials to form portions of layers on the rotating cylindrical member with the different materials supplied to the at least two printheads, and operate at least one other actuator operatively connected to the at least two printheads and a curing device to move each of the printheads and the curing device independently of one another in a bidirectional radial direction with reference to a center of the rotating cylindrical member. This operation enables the curing device to be positioned to modify the layers formed on the rotating cylindrical member while the cylindrical member is rotating within the at least two supports.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.