Techniques for reducing peel forces in additive fabrication and related systems and methods
AssigneeFormlabs, Inc.
InventorsAruni Kacker, Andrew DeGonge, Garth Whelan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In additive fabrication, less stiff layers generally require a comparatively higher peel force during separation, and that therefore geometric structures that include less stiff layers will also require a comparatively higher peel force during separation. Techniques to lower or otherwise mitigate undesirably large peel forces are described. These techniques include modification to how layers susceptible to a large peel force are formed, modification to a model of a part prior to generating instructions for an additive fabrication device to fabricate the part, and/or improvements to an additive fabrication device hardware.
Claims18
A method of configuring an additive fabrication device to fabricate an object, the additive fabrication device configured to form the object from a plurality of layers of solid material by directing at least one source of actinic radiation onto a liquid photopolymer, the method comprising:
- generating, using at least one processor, instructions that, when executed by the additive fabrication device, cause the additive fabrication device to fabricate the object at least in part by:
- forming a first layer of the object according to a three-dimensional model of the object, wherein a first region of the first layer is cured by the at least one source of actinic radiation at a first exposure power, and wherein a second region of the first layer is cured by the at least one source of actinic radiation at a second exposure power;
- and
- forming a second layer of the object in contact with the first layer of the object, wherein at least a third region of the second layer overlaps a portion of the first region of the first layer, and wherein the third region of the second layer is cured with a greater cure depth than an adjacent region of the second layer, thereby directing additional actinic radiation to the portion of the first region of the first layer through the third region of the second layer.
A computer system comprising
- at least one processor;
- at least one computer readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of configuring an additive fabrication device to form an object from a plurality of layers of solid material by directing at least one source of actinic radiation onto a liquid photopolymer, the method comprising:
- generating, using at least one processor, instructions that, when executed by the additive fabrication device, cause the additive fabrication device to fabricate the object at least in part by:
- forming a first layer of the object according to a three-dimensional model of the object, wherein a first region of the first layer is cured by the at least one source of actinic radiation at a first exposure power, and wherein a second region of the first layer is cured by the at least one source of actinic radiation at a second exposure power;
- and
- forming a second layer of the object in contact with the first layer of the object, wherein at least a third region of the second layer overlaps a portion of the first region of the first layer, and wherein the third region of the second layer is cured with a greater cure depth than an adjacent region of the second layer, thereby directing additional actinic radiation to the portion of the first region of the first layer through the third region of the second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.