Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography
AssigneeUVP, Inc.
InventorCharles W. Hull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for generating three-dimensional objects by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.
Claims47
A system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed synergistic stimulation, said system comprising:
- means for drawing upon and forming successive cross-sectional laminae of said object at a two-dimensional interface;
- and
- means for moving said cross-sections as they are formed and building up said object in step wise fashion, whereby a three-dimensional object is extracted from a substantially two-dimensional surface.
An improved system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed synergistic stimulation, said system comprising:
- a body of fluid medium capable of transforming its physical state in response to synergistic stimulation;
- object support means immersed within said fluid medium for supporting a three-dimensional object to be formed;
- translational means for selectively moving said object support means progressively away from a designated surface of said fluid medium;
- and
- reaction means capable of altering the physical state of said fluid medium and operating in a prescribed pattern upon said designated surface of said fluid medium to provide a thin solid lamina at said surface representing a corresponding cross-sectional lamina of said three-dimensional object to be formed,
- whereby successive adjacent laminae are provided to form said three-dimensional object on said object support means as said translational means moves said support means away from said designated surface.
A system for directly producing a three-dimensional object as it is designed by a computer, comprising:
- deriving graphic image output from said computer, said graphic image defining successive adjacent cross-sections of the three-dimensional object designed by said computer;
- means for drawing upon and forming successive cross-sections, corresponding to said computer designed cross-sections of said object, at a two-dimensional interface;
- and
- means for moving said cross-sections as they are formed and building up said object in a stepwise fashion, whereby the three-dimensional object designed by said computer is automatically extracted from a substantially two-dimensional surface.
An improved system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state when subjected to prescribed radiation, said system comprising:
- a body of fluid medium capable of altering its physical state;
- means for forming said three-dimensional object from said fluid medium by irradiating a designated surface of said medium to provide integrated, successive surface laminae at said surface, said laminae together defining said three-dimensional object.
An improved system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium, said system comprising:
- a body of fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to prescribed radiation;
- a radiation source for impinging said prescribed radiation in a selected pattern upon a designated surface of said fluid medium to provide only at said surface a thin solid lamina representing a cross-sectional lamina of a three-dimensional object to be formed;
- and
- means for combining successive adjacent laminae to form said three-dimensional object from said fluid medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.