Three-dimensional printer
AssigneeBlueprinter Aps
InventorsAnders Ørnsholt Hartmann, Frederik Walsted Tjellesen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printer (106) for building a three-dimensional model by sequential deposition of a plurality of cross-sectional layers by using a thermal print head (1) movable relative to a material bed (102) over a deposited layer. A protective sheet (3) is disposed between the thermal head (1) and deposited layer. Temperature control of the material bed (102) to prevent warping of the model is provided by an independently heatable cover (52, 58) in contact with the surface of the material bed (102) e.g. via the protective sheet (3).
Claims15
A printer for building a three-dimensional model by sequential deposition of a plurality of cross-sectional layers, the printer comprising:
- a material bed;
- a layer depositing mechanism for depositing a layer on the material bed;
- and
- a thermal head movable relative to the material bed over the deposited layer,
- wherein the thermal head comprises an array of selectively activatable heating elements arranged to transfer thermal energy by conduction to heat-treat a selectable area of green material in the deposited layer, and
- characterised in that:
- the layer depositing mechanism includes a spreading element movable relative to the material bed for spreading a layer of flowable green material on the material bed.
A rapid prototyping method for creating a three-dimensional model, the method comprising:
- (i) spreading out a layer of flowable green material on a material bed;
- (ii) causing relative movement between a thermal head and the material bed to move the thermal head over the deposited layer;
- (iii) selectively applying heat by conduction via the thermal head during the relative movement to heat treat a predetermined area of the deposited layer to form a cross-sectional layer of the model;
- (iv) spreading out a successive layer of flowable green material on top of the previous layer;
- (v) causing relative movement between the thermal head and the material bed to move the thermal head over the successive layer;
- (vi) selectively applying heat by conduction via the thermal head during the relative movement to heat treat a predetermined area of the successive layer to form the next cross-sectional layer;
- (vii) repeating steps (iv) to (vi) until the three-dimensional model is built;
- and
- (viii) removing the untreated green material from the material bed to reveal the three-dimensional model,
- wherein the spreading steps are performed using a spreading element that is movable relative to the material bed to spread a layer of flowable green material on the material bed.
A printing assembly movably mountable over a material bed of a printer for building a three-dimensional model by sequential deposition of a plurality of cross-sectional layers on the material bed, the printing assembly comprising:
- a thermal head comprising an array of selectively activatable heating elements arranged to transfer thermal energy by conduction to heat-treat a selectable area of flowable green material in a deposited layer on the material bed;
- a sheet receiving portion for receiving a protective sheet and feeding it under the array of heating elements such that it lies between the array of heating elements and the deposited layer in use, and
- a sheet separating portion arranged to lift the protective sheet upon exit from under the array of heating elements for separating the protective sheet from the heat-treated selectable area after heat treatment when in use.
A printer for building a three-dimensional model by sequential deposition of a plurality of cross-sectional layers, the printer comprising:
- a material bed;
- a layer depositing mechanism for depositing a layer of green material on the material bed;
- a heat source arranged to generate thermal energy for heat-treating a selectable area of green material in the deposited layer;
- a protective cover disposed between the deposited layer and the heat source in contact with the selectable area during heat-treatment;
- a separator for separating the protective cover from the selectable area after heat-treatment;
- and
- a temperature regulating element in thermal communication with the deposited layer to control cooling of the deposited layer after heat-treatment but before separation of the protective cover from the selectable area.
A printer for building a three-dimensional model by sequential deposition of a plurality of cross-sectional layers, the printer comprising:
- a material bed;
- a layer depositing mechanism for depositing a layer of green material on the material bed;
- a cover in contact with the deposited layer, wherein the cover has two independent heatable plates, which lie over and substantially cover the deposited material on each side of a region of exposed green material, each heatable plate having an independently controllable temperature for regulating the temperature of the deposited material;
- and
- a heat source arranged to generate thermal energy for heat-treating the region of exposed green material in the deposited layer,
- wherein the cover is movable relative to the material bed to move the region of exposed green material along the material bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.