Method and apparatus for printing three-dimensional (3d) objects
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsDaniel DIKOVSKY, Eduardo NAPADENSKY, Shai HIRSCH, Evgeni LEVIN, Yoav BRESSLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) object and a support construction for the 3D object includes depositing a model material, layer-by-layer, on a fabrication platform, to print a first portion of the 3D object, and depositing a support material, layer-by-layer on the fabrication platform, to print the support construction, wherein, in a predetermined number of the deposited layers, the model material and the support material are deposited such that a gap is formed between a surface of the first portion of the 3D object and a surface of the support construction.
Claims10
A system for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object and a support construction for the 3D object, comprising:
- a printing unit comprising one or more print heads configured to deposit body material for forming the 3D object and support material for forming the support construction;
- a supply system for supplying the body material and support material to the printing unit;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- generate 3D cross sectional digital data comprising a set of horizontal slices, wherein each of the slices includes one or more body regions representing a horizontal cross section of the 3D object, and at least each of some of the slices further includes one or more support regions being adjacent to the body region and representing a corresponding horizontal cross section of the support construction;
- manipulate the 3D digital data to create a set of shifted slices by performing vertical shifts between the body region and the support region of a same horizontal slice to create printing digital data, wherein at least each of some of the shifted slices includes a body region of one of the horizontal slices together with a support region of another one of the horizontal slices;
- and
- control the printing unit to deposit, in layers, from the one or more printing heads, the body material and the support material based on the printing digital data, wherein in a single scan, droplets of the support material and droplets of the body material travel different distances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.