Three dimensional modelling apparatus

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

• providing a solidifiable material which solidifies when given stimulation is provided;
• and
• selectably solidifying the solidifiable material on a sequential layer by layer basis, the step of selectably solidifying comprising the step of performing the following steps a plurality of times:
• selectably solidifying an individual layer, thereby defining colidified portions of the individual layer and non-solidified portions of the individual layer;
• and
• removing the non-solidified portions of the individual layer and replacing the non-solidified portions by a removable support material which is not solidifiable in response to the given stimulation.

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

• receiving coordinate information;
• producing a plurality of masks on a reusable substrate in accordance with the coordinate information;
• after producing each said mask, sequentially irradiating a layer of a solidifiable liquid via the mask;
• and
• for each said layer, replacing the non-solidified portions by a removable support material which is not solidifiable in response to the radiating.

A system for automatically providing a three-dimensional physical model of a desired geometry and comprising:

• means for selectably solidifying a solidifiable material on a sequential layer by layer basis, the solidifiable material being solidifiable in response to a given stimulation, the means for selectably solidifying comprising at least one of each of the following elements:
• selectably solidifying apparatus for selectably solidifying some portions of an individual layer, thereby defining solidified and non-solidified portions thereof;
• and
• means for removing the non-solidified portions of the individual layer and for replacing the non-solidified portions by a removable support material which is not solidifiable in response to said given stimulation.