US 6,717,106 B2 · Laser sintering apparatus

Abstract

A laser sintering apparatus for realizing high-speed and high-precision forming. When a first position of an exposure unit is decided by an XY-positioning mechanism, a micromirror of a DMD is turned on and off in accordance with image data in a region corresponding to the first position and a laser beam in a predetermined region including ultraviolet is supplied to the DMD and modulated for each pixel in accordance with image data. A laser beam reflected in the direction of a reflection mirror is reflected therefrom in the direction of a surface of a powdered body. A region having a predetermined area on the surface of the powdered body is exposed by the laser beam, and the exposed portion is thereby cured. Similarly, by repeating movement of and exposure with the exposure unit, the entire surface of the powdered body is exposed.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A laser sintering apparatus for forming a three-dimensional model by exposing a powdered body with a laser beam, comprising:

an exposure component for exposing predetermined regions corresponding to a plurality of pixels on a surface of the powdered body with a laser beam, which has a wavelength in a predetermined wavelength region that includes ultraviolet, and which is emitted from a light source and modulated for each pixel in accordance with image data;
and
a moving component for moving the exposure component relative to the surface of the powdered body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Laser sintering apparatus

Life of this patent

Laser sintering apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31