Additive manufacturing apparatus and system
AssigneePaxis LLC
InventorsFrederick Knecht, Michael G. Littrell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims27
A deposition mechanism configured for producing a three-dimensional object on a build platform using a resin in a layer-by-layer technique, with a build area defined adjacent to the build platform, the deposition mechanism comprising:
- a carriage configured for movement through the build area;
- a supply of the resin in flowable form mounted on the carriage;
- a roller in communication with the supply of the resin and rotatably mounted on the carriage;
- and
- an exposure device mounted on the carriage and configured for emitting electromagnetic waves,
- wherein the exposure device is configured for emitting the electromagnetic waves to a first exposure site located adjacent to the roller within the supply of the resin, to at least partially solidify a layer of the resin,
- wherein the roller is configured for rotating to carry the layer of the resin to an application site within the build area for application to produce the three-dimensional object as the carriage passes through the build area, and
- wherein the exposure device is further configured for emitting the electromagnetic waves to a second exposure site within the build area to apply the layer to produce the three-dimensional object.
A deposition mechanism configured for producing a three-dimensional object on a build platform using a resin in a layer-by-layer technique, with a build area defined adjacent to the build platform, the deposition mechanism comprising:
- a carriage configured for movement through the build area;
- a supply of the resin in flowable form mounted on the carriage;
- a primary roller in communication with the supply of the resin and rotatably mounted on the carriage;
- a secondary roller rotatably mounted at least partially within the supply of the resin, such that a space is defined between the primary roller and the secondary roller;
- and
- an exposure device mounted on the carriage and configured for emitting electromagnetic waves,
- wherein the exposure device is configured for emitting the electromagnetic waves to a first exposure site located within the supply of the resin and within the space between the primary and secondary rollers, to at least partially solidify a layer of the resin, such that the space between the primary and secondary rollers defines a thickness of the layer,
- wherein the primary roller is configured for rotating to carry the layer of the resin to an application site within the build area for application to produce the three-dimensional object as the carriage passes through the build area, and
- wherein the exposure device is further configured for emitting the electromagnetic waves to a second exposure site within the build area to apply the layer to produce the three-dimensional object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.