Method and system for three-dimensional fabrication
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsEliahu M. Kritchman, Eduardo Napadensky
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Abstract
A method of three-dimensional fabrication of an object is disclosed. The method comprises: forming a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object, at least one layer of the plurality of layers being formed at a predetermined and different thickness selected so as to compensate for post-formation shrinkage of the layer along a vertical direction. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention spread of building material of one or more layers is diluted at least locally such as to maintain a predetermined thickness and a predetermined planar resolution for the layer.
Claims17
A method of fabricating a three-dimensional object, comprising spreading powder material on a tray to form a plurality of layers, each powder layer comprising a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object, wherein for each layer the tray is lowered to form said layer at a predetermined thickness;
- and
- wherein a post-formation shrinkage of said powder layers along a vertical direction is compensated for by:
- i) lowering said tray by a different step size for different layers, wherein determination of the compensated slice data assumes layers of same thickness;
- or
- ii forming each layer from compensated slice data, wherein determination of the compensated slice data assumes layers of different thickness;
- and wherein said tray is lowered by a constant step size for different layers.
A system for three-dimensional fabrication of an object, comprising:
- a three-dimensional powder fusing or binding fabrication apparatus, designed and constructed to spread on a tray powder material, to form a plurality of layers on said tray, wherein each of the plurality of powder layers comprises a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of a cross-section of the three-dimensional object;
- said three-dimensional fabrication apparatus having a controller designed and constructed to receive computer object data and to ensure, based on said computer object data, that at least one powder layer of said plurality of powder layers is formed at a predetermined thickness selected so as to compensate for post-formation shrinkage of said powder layer along a vertical direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.