Additive Manufacturing Apparatus and System

An assembly for supplying a flowable material, comprising:

• a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having first and second inner support walls located at opposite ends of the supply vat;
• a first outer support wall positioned outward of the first inner support wall and located outside the supply vat, such that a first space is defined between the first inner support wall and the first outer support wall, wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space;
• a roller positioned at least partially within the supply vat and configured to be in contact with the flowable material, wherein the roller extends through the first opening and is positioned at least partially within the first space;
• a first seal engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the roller and positioned adjacent the first opening to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening;
• and
• a drainage system configured to remove portions of the flowable material that pass through the first opening from the first space.

An assembly for supplying a flowable material, comprising:

• a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having a first inner support wall, such that a first space is defined outward of the first inner support wall, and wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space;
• a roller positioned at least partially within the supply vat and configured to be in contact with the flowable material, wherein the roller extends through the first opening;
• and
• a first seal engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the roller and positioned adjacent the first opening to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening.

An assembly for supplying a flowable material, comprising:

• a supply vat configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having a first inner support wall;
• a first outer support wall positioned outward of the first inner support wall and located outside the supply vat, such that a first space is defined between the first inner support wall and the first outer support wall, wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space, wherein the assembly is configured to support a roller in contact with the flowable material, such that the first opening is configured to receive the roller therethrough;
• a first seal positioned adjacent the first opening and configured to be engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the roller to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening;
• and
• a drainage system configured to remove portions of the flowable material that pass through the first opening from the first space.

A deposition mechanism configured for producing a three-dimensional object on a build platform using a resin in a layer-by-layer technique, with a build area defined adjacent to the build platform, the deposition mechanism comprising:

• a carriage configured for movement through the build area;
• a supply vat mounted on the carriage and configured to contain the flowable material, the supply vat having first and second inner support walls located at opposite ends of the supply vat;
• a first outer support wall positioned outward of the first inner support wall and located outside the supply vat, such that a first space is defined between the first inner support wall and the first outer support wall, wherein the first inner support wall has a first opening therethrough extending between the supply vat and the first space;
• a roller mounted on the carriage and positioned at least partially within the supply vat and configured to be in contact with the flowable material, wherein the roller extends through the first opening and is positioned at least partially within the first space, and wherein the roller is configured for rotating to carry the layer of the resin to an application site within the build area for application to produce the three-dimensional object as the carriage passes through the build area;
• a first seal engaged with the roller around an entire periphery of the roller and positioned adjacent the first opening to resist most leakage of the flowable material through the first opening;
• a drainage system configured to remove portions of the flowable material that pass through the first opening from the first space;
• and
• an exposure device mounted on the carriage and configured for emitting electromagnetic waves to an exposure site within the build area to apply the layer to produce the three-dimensional object.