Three dimensional modeling

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:

• means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer;
• and
• means for curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof by exposing each layer of the photopolymer material through a mask defining a layered section of an object to be modeled, superimposed upon a grid pattern, and wherein the means for curing includes:
• computer means for generating a layer by layer raster pattern parallel to a first axis of each layer, and
• hardware plotter driver means receiving and decoding said raster pattern to define first grid lines along said first axis and adding thereto second grid lines along a second axis, thereby to define said grid pattern.

A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;

• selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer;
• and
• curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof by exposing each layer of the photopolymer material through a mask defining a layered section of an object to be modeled superimposed upon a grid comprising first grid lines, and wherein the step of curing includes the steps of:
• computer generating a layer by layer raster pattern parallel to a first axis of each layer, and
• receiving the raster pattern to define the first grid lines along the first axis and adding thereto second grid lines along a second axis, thereby to define a grid pattern.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:

• means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer;
• means for exposing the photopolymer material to define selectable configuration;
• and
• means for curing the exposed portion of each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer,
• and wherein said means for exposing comprises means for directing illumination through a mask including a low resolution, programmable erasable portion associated with a high resolution non-erasable film portion.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:

• means for depositing, layer upon layer, a photopolymer material;
• means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, wherein said means for depositing includes means for selectably forming a diagnostic layer;
• mean for analyzing the diagnostic layer;
• and
• means for removing the diagnostic layer before subsequent deposition of other layers.

A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of;

• depositing, layer upon layer, a photopolymer material;
• curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said step of depositing includes the step of selectably forming a diagnostic layer;
• analyzing the diagnostic layer;
• and
• removing the diagnostic layer before subsequent deposition of other layers.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;

• means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• means for curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer;
• and
• optical inspection means for visually inspecting each layer as said layer is formed.

A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising:

• selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer;
• and
• optically inspecting each layer as said layer is formed.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;

• means for selective dispensing a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• and
• means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said means for radiation curing includes:
• means for initially partially curing the photopolymer layer to provide a partially cured photopolymer layer,
• means for removing uncured material from the partially cured photopolymer layer, and
• means for thereafter finally curing the photopolymer layer.

A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of;

• selective dispensing a photopolymer material, layer upon layer, in a pattern configuration;
• and
• radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, and wherein said step of radiation curing includes the steps of:
• initially partially curing the photopolymer layer to provide a partially cured photopolymer layer,
• removing uncured material from the partially cured photopolymer layer, and
• thereafter finally curing the photopolymer layer.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;

• means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer;
• and
• means for providing a visually sensible indication on each layer.

A method for producing a three-dimensional model comprising the steps of:

• selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer;
• and
• providing a visually sensible indication on each layer.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;

• means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer;
• means for applying a support material at certain locations of each layer which are not filled by photopolymer prior to deposition onto said layer of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, wherein said support material is a solidifiable material;
• and
• cooling plate means arranged for planar engagement with the layer after application of said support material, for cooling and thus solidifying the solidifiable material.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model comprising;

• means for selective dispensing of a photopolymer material, layer upon layer in a pattern configuration;
• means for radiation curing each said photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer;
• and
• means for applying a support material at certain locations of each layer which are not filled by photopolymer prior to deposition onto said layer of a succeeding layer of photopolymer, wherein said support material is a sintered powder.