Method and apparatus for solid freeform fabrication of objects utilizing in situ infusion
AssigneeTrio Labs, Inc.
InventorAdam T. C. Steege
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fabrication device includes a platform to receive layers of build material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model, a component to deposit layers of build material, and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The first imaging component may be a programmable planar light source or a specialized refractive rastering mechanism, or other imaging system. The platform includes an infusion system for providing photocurable resin to the component being built. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component.
Claims13
A method for powder composite fabrication, the method comprising:
- delivering a powder material to a build platform;
- infusing the powder material with a photocurable material delivered through the build platform;
- selectively activating an imaging device to irradiate the photocurable material to at least partially solidify a layer of a powder composite component;
- and
- repeating the steps of delivering a powder material, infusing the powder material with a photocurable material, and selectively irradiating the photocurable material to form the powder composite component, wherein the photocurable material is delivered through one or more regions where the powder material blends with previously-delivered and uncured photocurable material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.