Three-dimensional printing methods for reducing bubbles by de-gassing through build plate

An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a polymerizable liquid, comprising:

• (a) a support;
• (b) a carrier operatively associated with said support on which carrier said three-dimensional object is formed;
• (c) a gas permeable optically transparent member having a build surface, with said build surface and said carrier defining a build region therebetween;
• (d) a liquid polymer supply operatively associated with said build surface and configured to supply liquid polymer into said build region for solidification or polymerization;
• (e) a radiation source configured to irradiate said build region through said optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from said polymerizable liquid;
• (f) optionally at least one drive operatively associated with either said transparent member or said carrier;
• (g) a controller operatively associated with said carrier, and/or optionally said at least one drive, and said radiation source for continuously or intermittently advancing said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer,
• (h) a gas/pressure controller in fluid communication with said optically transparent member configured to control a pressure and/or supply a gas to said build surface through said gas permeable member, wherein said gas/pressure controller is configured to
• apply a reduced pressure and oxygen-enriched gas to the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member to thereby reduce a nitrogen content of the polymerizable liquid by supplying oxygen through the optically transparent member into the polymerizable liquid while withdrawing nitrogen from the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member;
• and
• intermittently reducing a pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas.

An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a polymerizable liquid, comprising:

• (a) a support;
• (b) a carrier operatively associated with said support on which carrier said three-dimensional object is formed;
• (c) a gas permeable optically transparent member having a build surface, with said build surface and said carrier defining a build region therebetween;
• (d) a liquid polymer supply operatively associated with said build surface and configured to supply liquid polymer into said build region for solidification or polymerization;
• (e) a radiation source configured to irradiate said build region through said optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from said polymerizable liquid;
• (f) optionally at least one drive operatively associated with either said transparent member or said carrier;
• (g) a controller operatively associated with said carrier, and/or optionally said at least one drive, and said radiation source for continuously or intermittently advancing said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer,
• (h) a gas/pressure controller in fluid communication with said optically transparent member configured to control a pressure and/or supply a gas to said build surface through said gas permeable member, wherein said gas/pressure controller is configured to
• apply a reduced pressure and oxygen enriched gas to the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member to thereby reduce a nitrogen content of the polymerizable liquid by supplying oxygen through the optically transparent member into the polymerizable liquid while withdrawing nitrogen from the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member;
• and
• wherein the polymerizable liquid comprises a lower region on the optically transparent member, and an upper region on the lower region opposite the optically transparent member,
• wherein said gas/pressure controller is configured to apply a reduced pressure oxygen enriched gas to the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member and reduce a gas concentration in the upper region.