Method and apparatus for prototyping a three-dimensional object
AssigneeZ Corporation
InventorsDavid B. Russell, Timothy Anderson, James F. Bredt, Michael J. Vogel, Martin Seymour, Walter J. Bornhorst, Marina I. Hatsopoulos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printer forms three-dimensional objects from a powder by selectively applying a binder liquid to incremental layers of the powder. The binder binds layers of the powder into solid two-dimensional cross sections of the desired object provided from memory. The printer can use dithering and halftoning techniques to shade the object and can also print in color. A filtration system removes airborne powder and recirculates the clean air. The printer also includes additional features to manage excess and airborne powder.
Claims29
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object from a representation of the object stored in memory, the apparatus comprising:
- a feed reservoir having stored therein a supply of build material for forming the object;
- a build table for receiving incremental layers of the build material from the feed reservoir;
- an overflow cavity for receiving an excess quantity of build material transferred from the feed reservoir but not received by the build table;
- and
- a vacuum pump coupled to the overflow cavity to create an air flow from the overflow cavity.
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object from a representation of the object stored in memory, the apparatus comprising:
- a work area housing a fabrication assembly for fabricating the object from a build material, the work area having airborne build material therein;
- a clean area housing equipment coupled to the fabrication assembly and damageable by the airborne build material;
- a partial seal separating the work area from the clean area, there being a mechanical coupling through the partial seal.
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object from a representation of the object stored in memory, the apparatus comprising:
- layering apparatus for forming a layer of powder material;
- a supply of binder liquid which reacts with the powder material to form a solid structure;
- a supply of dyes combinable to create a plurality of perceived colors;
- and
- printing apparatus to deposit the binder liquid and the dyes at selected positions on the layer of powder material, the binder liquid binding regions of the powder material together to form cross-sections of the object.
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object from a representation of the object stored in memory, the improvement comprising:
- a feed reservoir having stored therein a supply of build material for forming the object;
- a build table for receiving incremental layers of the build material from the feed reservoir;
- an overflow cavity for receiving an excess quantity of build material transferred from the feed reservoir but not received by the build table;
- a print gantry;
- a plow member coupled to the print gantry to inhibit an accumulation of loose build material around the build chamber;
- and
- an abrasive proximate to the overflow cavity to remove build material from the print gantry and direct the removed build material into the overflow cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.