Fabrication of three-dimensional objects by irradiation of radiation-curable materials

An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from radiation-curable material layer by layer by application of modulated radiation to selectively solidify said material directly or after additional processing, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) support means having a surface for building objects onto;
• (b) containing means having walls for containing unsolidified material around the object being formed;
• (c) layering means for forming a layer of material covered with a radiation-transmitting film spaced over said container and for spacing said film farther over said container to create a space between said film and said layer for forming therein successive layer;
• (d) dispensing means for dispensing said material into said space;
• and
• (e) irradiation means for irradiating said layers through said film to form and attach successive layers of said object.

An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from radiation-curable material layer by layer by application of modulated radiation to selectively solidify said material directly or after additional processing, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) support means having a surface for building objects onto;
• (b) layering means for forming a layer of material covered with a radiation-transmitting film and upon irradiation of the formed layer spacing said film over said layer to create a space between said film and said layer for forming successive layer therein;
• said layering means including a wet and dry guide being in contact with opposite sides of said film and moving back and forth in said space over said surface to affect said forming and spacing in alternate order;
• said wet guide moving in front of said dry guide during said forming of a layer;
• (c) dispensing means for dispensing said material into said space;
• and
• (d) irradiation means for irradiating said layers through said film to form and attach successive layers of said object.

An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects from radiation-curable material layer by layer by application of modulated radiation to selectively solidify said material directly or after additional processing, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) support means having a surface for building objects onto;
• (b) layering means for forming a layer of material covered with a radiation-transmitting film and upon irradiation spacing the film over said layer to create a space between said film and said layer for forming therein successive layer;
• (c) dispensing means for dispensing said material into said space:
• (d) flattening means for flattening said film and said layer, said flattening means having flat contact means coming in contact with said film covering said layer and moving means for further decreasing distance between said film and said surface;
• and
• (e) irradiation means for irradiating said layers through said film to form and attach successive layers of said object.