Mirror assemblies for three dimensional printers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsCamilo Andres Moreno Cleves, Krzysztof Nauka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In example implementations, a minor assembly for a three dimensional printer is provided. The minor assembly includes a first side and a second side. The first side is symmetrical to the second side and enclose a cylindrical light source. The first side and the second side each include a first curved reflective surface and a second curved reflective surface. An end of the first curved reflective surface and a beginning of the second curved reflective surface form an edge along a surface formed by the first curved reflective surface and the second curved reflective surface.
Claims15
A mirror assembly, comprising:
- a first side;
- and
- a second side, wherein the first side is symmetrical the second side and enclose a cylindrical light source, wherein the first side and the second side each comprise:
- a first curved reflective surface;
- and
- a second curved reflective surface, wherein an end of the first curved reflective surface and a beginning of the second curved reflective surface form an edge along a surface formed by the first curved reflective surface and the second curved reflective surface.
The mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein each point of the first curved reflective surface is perpendicular to a respective tangent ray from the cylindrical light source.
A three dimensional (3D) printer, comprising:
- a build material dispenser to dispense a build material;
- a spreader to level the build material dispensed onto a platform;
- a light source comprising a mirror assembly to apply energy to build material on platform, wherein the mirror assembly comprises symmetrical sides that enclose the light source, wherein each one of the symmetrical sides comprises:
- a first curved reflective surface;
- and
- a second curved reflective surface, wherein the first curved reflective surface and the second curved reflective surface are two different curved surfaces that are connected to form each side of the symmetrical sides;
- and
- a controller in communication with the build material dispenser, the platform, the spreader, and the light source to control operation of the build material dispenser, the platform, the spreader, and the light source.
A method, comprising:
- receiving a first set of light rays emitted from a light source at a first curved reflective surface of a mirror assembly;
- receiving a second set of light rays emitted from a light source at a second curved reflective surface of the mirror assembly, wherein an end of the first curved reflective surface and a beginning of the second curved reflective surface form an edge along a surface of the mirror assembly;
- and
- reflecting the first set of light rays by the first curved reflective surface and the second set of light rays by the second curved reflective surface onto a target area of a build material on a platform of a three dimensional printer, wherein the first set of light rays and the second set of light rays are reflected to provide a uniform illumination on the target area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.