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Assignee3D Systems, Inc.
InventorsJoseph W. Allison, Jan Richter, Craig M. Childers, Dennis R. Smalley, Charles W. Hull, Paul F. Jacobs
Estimating the term…
An improved method for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object wherein ordinarily solidified internal walls of the object remain at least partially unsolidified. Any unsolidified medium within the object can be drained from the internal walls of the object prior to post-curing so that a hollow three-dimensional object is formed. The object is formed on a layer by layer basis with the internal portion of each layer of the object formed as a grid of solidified portions and unsolidified portions wherein the solidified and unsolidified portions are different on each layer. Objects formed in this manner can be used as patterns in investment casting.
In a method for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object with drainable walls on substantially a layer by layer basis comprising the steps of forming successive layers of building material in preparation for forming successive layers of building material in preparation for forming successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object and selectively solidifying said successive layers of said building material to form successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object by selectively exposing said successive layers to synergistic stimulation whereby the object is formed from a plurality of cross-section, the improvement comprising the steps of:
In a method for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object with hollow walls on substantially a layer by layer basis comprising the steps of forming successive layers of building material in preparation for forming successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object and selectively solidifying said successive layers of said building material to form said successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object by selectively exposing said successive layers to synergistic stimulation whereby the object is formed from a plurality of cross-sections, the improvement comprising the steps of:
In an apparatus for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object with drainable walls on substantially a layer by layer basis comprising a source of synergistic stimulation, means for forming successive layers of building material in preparation for forming successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object and means for selectively solidifying said successive layers of said building material to form successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object including means for selectively exposing said successive layers to synergistic stimulation whereby the object is formed from a plurality of cross-sections, the improvement comprising:
In an apparatus for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object with hollow walls on substantially a layer by layer basis comprising a source of synergistic stimulation, means for forming successive layers of building material in preparation for forming successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object, and means for selectively solidifying said successive layers of building material to form said successive cross-sections of said three-dimensional object including means for selectively exposing said successive layer to synergistic stimulation whereby the object is formed from a plurality of cross-sections, the improvement comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.