Computer automated manufacturing process and system

A method for designing an article in two dimensions and then reproducing the article design in three dimensions comprising:

• generating a data file of three-dimensional coordinates on a computer machine representing the three-dimensional design of said article in a coordinate system;
• providing a controlled environment;
• providing an origination seed in said controlled environment which serves as a point of origin in said coordinate system;
• providing a source of mass particles;
• directing said particles to said three-dimensional coordinates of said article in said coordinate system;
• positioning said particles at said coordinates;
• and
• joining said particles to one another at said coordinates to build up said article in three dimension about said origination seed.

Apparatus for reproducing a physical three-dimensional article from a data file generated on a computer machine on which said article was designed comprising:

• a data file of three-dimensional coordinate information which corresponds to the design of said article in a three-dimensional coordinate system and space;
• a controlled environment;
• a physical origination seed which serves as a point of origin of said three-dimensional coordinate system;
• means for locating said seed point in said controlled environment at the origin of said coordinate system;
• a source of mass particles;
• directional means for directing said mass particles to said coordinates in said coordinate system within said controlled environment;
• control means for controlling said directional means in response to said coordinate information in said data file;
• and
• means for joining said mass particles together at said coordinates to physically construct said article in three-dimensions about said origination seed.

A method for the three-dimensional reproduction of an article from a data file generated in response to creation of a three-dimensional design on a computer machine, said method comprising:

• providing a data file of coordinate information representing a three-dimensional design of said article in a three-dimensional coordinate system;
• providing a working head which emits an energy beam for directing mass particles to the respective coordinates of said three-dimensional design in said coordinate system;
• providing a controlled environment;
• locating an origination seed in said control environment to provide a point of origin in said coordinate system about which said article is constructed;
• moving said working head in response to said data file of three-dimensional coordinates to emit said energy beam to direct and locate said particles at said coordinates;
• and
• joining said mass particles located at said coordinates of said three-dimensional coordinate system beginning with said origination seed to physically reconstruct said article in three-dimensions about said origination seed.