Three dimensional modelling apparatus

A system for automatically providing a three-dimensional physical model of a desired geometry and comprising means for sequentially irradiating a plurality of layers of a solidifiable material via masks in a non-contacting proximity exposure wherein the masks are produced in accordance with received coordinate information, compensating for distortions resulting from the separation of the masks from the layers and the use of non-collimated illumination in the non-contacting proximity exposure, said masks comprising a reusable substrate, means for depositing toner on said reusable substrate in a first desired pattern for use as a first mask for exposure of one of said plurality of layers and for subsequently depositing toner on said reusable substrate in a second desired pattern for use as a second mask for exposure of another of said plurality of layers.

A method of automatically providing a three-dimensional physical model of a desired geometry and comprising the steps of sequentially irradiating a plurality of layers of a solidifiable material via masks produced in accordance with received coordinate information, said steps of sequentially irradiating comprising the steps of depositing toner on a reusable substrate in a first desired pattern for use as a first mask for exposure of one of said plurality of layers and subsequently depositing toner on said reusable substrate in a second desired pattern for use as a second mask for exposure of another of said plurality of layers.

A method for automatically providing a three-dimensional physical model of a desired geometry and comprising the steps of sequentially irradiating a plurality of layers of a solidifiable material via masks in a non-contacting proximity exposure wherein the masks are produced in accordance with received coordinate information, compensating for distortions resulting from the separation of the masks from the layers and the use of non-collimated illumination in the non-contacting proximity exposure and compensating the masks for distortions caused by separation of the masks from the layers and the use of non-collimated illumination by means of the application of a linear transformation.

A method of automatically providing a three-dimensional physical model of a desired geometry comprising the following steps:

• sequentially irradiating a plurality of layers of a solidifiable material via masks produced in accordance with received coordinate information, said steps of sequentially irradiating comprising depositing of toner directly on one of said plurality of layers in a desired pattern for use as a mask for exposure of said layer.

A three dimensional model constructed in accordance with a process including the following steps:

• sequentially irradiating a plurality of layers of a solidifiable material via masks produced in accordance with received coordinate information, said steps of sequentially irradiating comprising the steps of depositing toner on a reusable substrate in a first desired pattern for use as a first mask for exposure of one of said plurality of layers and subsequently depositing toner on said reusable substrate in a second desired pattern for use as a second mask for exposure of another of said plurality of layers.